Doing the Will of the Father

# 322 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 3:31-35, “ Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

If you recall from v21 of this chapter, Jesus' family members were very concerned about His mental well-being and now they send word to Him through the crowd that they would like to talk to Him. Rather than going to talk to them He uses the opportunity to teach a great spiritual truth.

We could even rephrase His question to the crowd this way: “Who is closest to Me? Who is closer than even blood relatives? The answer is, anyone who does the will of the Father.

Now, be careful here, lest you think that “doing” the will of the Father is tied to a list of do this and don't do that. That would be salvation by works. Do you really believe that this is the spiritual lesson that Jesus is trying to get across here? What does He mean when He says, “do the will of the Father?”

The will of the Father in the context of becoming closer to God than blood relatives is connected to repentance.

The Twentieth Century New Testament puts it this way in 2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness; but he is forbearing with you, as it is not his will that any of you should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance.”

What is His will? That all should be brought to repentance! Do you want to become close to Jesus and part of His heavenly family? Then allow Him to bring you to repentance! Have godly sorrow over your sins and then believe the Gospel! Trust in the blood of Jesus, to cleanse you from all of your sins.
This is the will of the Father. This is how you become close to the Father. And out of this closeness and love for the Father, the desire to live according to His Word will follow.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.