Tonight our church gathered for a time of prayer. There was adoration and praise, confession, thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication. What a glorious time it was to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ to go to our Father God. The prayers were edifying as we in unison lifted up our voices and thoughts to God. When I think about it, it was really just a time of family prayer. While not downplaying at all the importance and significance of physical siblings, I find it really amazing what Jesus told the crowd in the 3rd chapter of Mark:

Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:31-35

Jesus’ brothers and mother were standing outside looking for Him. But instead of acknowledging them as His family, He in effect renamed who are his brothers and sisters. They are the ones who “do the will of God.” They are believers. When you think about it, these people are the ones we will share eternity with worshiping our Heavenly Father. While we hope and pray that our physical brothers and sisters my be in this group as well, our Christian brothers and sisters are our eternal and real family. I anticipate and relish the time spent with these spiritual siblings which also includes members of my physical family. Do you enjoy gathering with your brothers and sisters to pray, worship or fellowship? If not – why not? These are the folks with which we will be sharing eternity. If not – you probably will not enjoy heaven. If not and you profess to be a Christian, then perhaps you should go to your Heavenly Father and ask Him why you do not value your Christian family or the time spent with them.

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