Our real “family”
03/13/2011
Matthew 12:46-50
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
The main line of the Union Pacific Railroad is only a few hundred feet from my kitchen window. While I’m cooking or doing the dishes, I enjoy being able to watch the trains rolling past. My favorite times are when two trains travel schedules intersect one another and they meet going in opposite directions. It’s fun listening to them blowing their air horns extra long as if to say “I’m so glad to see you today.”
This week, the passage from Matthew 12 listed above struck me. I brought it to our weekly prayer group and we prayed biblical prayers that all in the Body of Christ would understand where their true “family” lies and that our lives would intersect with one another. The times we live in are perilous and the word tells us to keep meeting together with our “family” to build one another up and to encourage one another. (Heb. 10:25)
Why not consider allowing your life to intersect with the life of a brother or sister in the Lord this week? You may think you are too busy, but the rewards of intersecting with our true “family” are richer than we can imagine!
Prayer points:
Pastor Ron and Linda are safely home in Belize after attending a missions conference. Please continue to pray for their daily provision, health, God’s wisdom. Also, pray for the staff, Andrew, Heather, Tiffany, Alison at Oasis Nation.
for missions teams who are planning trips to Belize this spring and summer. Pray for provision and godly decisions and that all who are called will respond.
for the Belizean people to understand where true “family” exists…in the Body of Christ!Many of them have no good model in their own families, so please pray that they will see the need to come to Christ and to be established in His family.
for Holy Spirit zeal to fill Step of Faith church and its leaders. May they worship God in spirit and in truth.
for Oasis School as the staff minister to many children each day! May these children see God’s true family through the loving words and actions of the Oasis School staff.
Prayer: Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit…You are so wonderful! Thank You for giving us a true family! Jesus, what You did on the cross for us is beyond our understanding. But we see the outcome…a personal relationship with You and Your Father and the Holy Spirit. Our hearts leap for joy that we have been adopted into a family that will last forever. Please touch and abundantly bless our friends, Pastor Ron and Linda and their staff as they minister to the people of Belize. Empower each one to share the good news that You invite us to Your family! In the Name of the One who gave His all for us…Jesus Christ! AMEN!
Prayer Challenge: Ask the Lord to bring to mind someone who needs prayer. Allow your life to intersect with theirs by following the lead of the Holy Spirit as you pray, and then send them a note or e-mail of encouragement. You’ll be amazed at how good YOU will feel!
Need prayer? If you have need for prayer, please send your request to our prayer team coordinator, mrs57shivy@yahoo.com
Closing thought…
Christ behind and before me,
Christ behind and above me,
Christ with me and in me,
Christ around and about me,
Christ on my right and on my left,
Christ when I lie down at night,
Christ when I rise in the morning,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone that speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. ~ St. Patrick
Blessings,Gina Lighthouse Ministries of Laramie, WY
