Reading: Luke 8:19-21

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

This passage may seem to show us a Jesus who does not hold Mary, his mother, in high esteem. This is not true, for he loved her and thought of her even in his final moments.
What does Jesus mean by these words?
Perhaps if we think about the immediately preceding passage, the parable of the sower, we can understand better.
Who are the Lord’s family, those born into a certain family or nation? No, but those born of the Spirit.
And the children of God are characterized by being fertile soil, by bearing fruit, because the work of the Holy Spirit is evident in their lives.
The children of God hear His Voice, and love to obey it. They struggle, they make mistakes, they sin, but the same Spirit gives them to repent and turn their eyes to Christ.
We know that salvation is of the Lord, by His grace and His grace alone. But Christ’s work in us is translated into obedience.
If I claim to be a child of God and delight in disobeying His Word, I am most likely deceiving myself.

MEDITATE: Do we pray daily to the Lord that He will sustain and strengthen us in obedience to His Word? Is it that same Word that examines our walk? *God bless you and strengthen you!