Rodrigo Ceballos (right) with his spiritual family

“Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ … Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’ ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’”
Mark 3:20-21, 31-35

The family we get to be a part of in the kingdom of God is absolutely incredible! Jesus’ statement here is powerful and challenging. He is saying that ANYONE who DOES GOD’S WILL is FAMILY. This is a teaching that many are afraid to utter because of the persecution it can bring from blood relatives. Many misunderstand Jesus’ words. He is not saying we shouldn’t love our physical families. On the contrary, we should love them more. As disciples of Jesus we should be more selfless than ever and “consider others better than ourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Jesus was even thinking about his mother while hanging on the cross and instructed John to care for her as if she were his own mother (John 19:27). That is how we are to care for each other in the kingdom of God. Because of Jesus’ love and lack of compromise, Mary and all his brothers had become disciples by Acts chapter one. That is a dream come true, but the only way we will see that same miracle in our lives is by loving God and making his family, THOSE WHO ARE LIVING OUT HIS WILL, our first priority (Matthew 6:33). People won’t be won to Christ by compromise, but only by deep personal conviction.

Over sixteen years ago, I made the decision to make Jesus Lord of my life and therefore my priorities. I share Jesus’ conviction that whoever does God’s will is my FAMILY. I will therefore seek first that family, God’s kingdom (Matthew 6.33). I will also seek first his righteousness (Matthew. 6:33), which includes loving my physical family the way God himself does. I dearly love and appreciate them, and I want to be the best son, brother and friend I can possibly be.

I have learned that SEEKING FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM looks a little different depending on the different stages of life we go through. As Theresa and I have gone from single to married to married with children, we have faced different obstacles that would keep us from being SOLD OUT for God and his church. A great question that we have been taught to ask ourselves is this: “how would Jesus live in my current life situation?”

Twelve years ago my wife and I prayed often that God would not allow us to get married unless our union would help us to be more useful and fruitful as a team than as individuals. As our children grow it has been especially exciting to see how God has used the whole family to help other people learn about his kingdom. One night, as our family went to a park in our neighborhood, my wife and son met a single mom named Bree Frank who was there with her son. The two boys became the best of friends and the single mom became our sister in Christ. Earlier this year, an incredible young man named Scott Buzzell was baptized. Scott and I would have never met if my son and I weren’t studying karate together at the same dojo he was attending. My wife’s mother, Lucy, was able to learn about God’s plan of salvation while she lived with us for a few months. Several dear women in the church were able to teach her the Bible and baptize her. During this time, the whole family was involved in helping Lucy to see a tiny piece of the kingdom in action. We shared meals, laughed and cried together. She watched us as we entertained and served other people and as we poured our lives out to study the Bible with people and teach them to obey everything we have been commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). We even got Lucy involved as a mediator during a couple of marital conflicts when we needed help communicating. While she did not see a perfect family, we do believe that she witnessed a family striving to put Jesus’ laws into practice. It is so special when a member of your physical family becomes a part of your spiritual family.
Just last Sunday we got to see a married couple become united in God’s kingdom. Olga’s husband Rodrigo Ceballos was baptized into Christ and therefore added to OUR FAMILY.

One of the things I love about our church family is the way we gather for midweek services. The men and women take turns meeting every other week. I heard that the women had a great time at this past Wednesday’s “Women’s Night Out.” At our last Men’s Night Out we had an incredible time in God’s word studying out the radical nature of Jesus. We talked about how Jesus was radical about sin (Matthew 5:29) and how he was equally radical about forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:19). After the lesson there was a time of openness. I was so proud of the brothers as they confessed their sins and asked for prayers and accountability. We then received each other with the forgiveness that God commands in Matthew 6:14-15 where Jesus says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Jesus was radical about sin and forgiveness.

After service the men went out for pizza to celebrate the birthdays of Pat Boea Sr. and Jay Shelbrack. We enjoyed great food and I laughed myself to tears a couple of times. I thank God for my brothers in the battle. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if the other people in the restaurant thought we were a little crazy that night, and I know that as we strive to build Jesus’ church, our own physical families might just think we are “out of our minds.” That’s the price we must pay to be like Jesus. Our prayer is that we will all be courageous enough to imitate him and that our physical families will be courageous enough to do the WILL OF THE FATHER so that they will be apart of our spiritual family as well.

Chris Broom

Categories: Articles
No Comments »