Luke 8:16-25 (ESV)

¹⁶ “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ¹⁷ For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ¹⁸ Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” ¹⁹ Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. ²⁰ And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” ²¹ But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” ²² One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, ²³ and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. ²⁴ And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵ He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Luke records that Jesus’ mother and his brothers came to him. The crowd surrounding him was so thick that his family couldn’t reach him. Someone there reported the situation to Jesus, and he was told that his mother, Mary, and his brothers were outside, desiring to see him. Jesus used this opportunity to teach a critical lesson to those with him. He said his mother and brothers were those who hear the word of God and respond to it with action. Jesus referred to them as those who “hear the word and do it.” Following Jesus isn’t simple as hearing facts concerning God, holiness, human nature, sin, judgment, grace, mercy, and forgiveness and then saying, “Oh, yes! I agree to all of that.” Of course, those who follow him must concur with what he taught. But throughout the Gospels, we see that we must also respond rightly to these truths. We are saved by faith. Salvation is not something we work up ourselves. Instead, it has been granted to us from above. Yet, saving faith includes a supernatural rewiring. God reworks those whom he has graced with salvation so that they will not only believe, but “do” something about that belief as well. If you hear the word of God and do it, in the end you will discover that it was God who graced you with both the hearing and the doing. He gives us the package deal. How humbling is that?

Jesus said his mother and brothers are those who hear the word and do it. In other words, those who obey God’s word are Jesus’ family. They are the ones he wants to be intimate with. Just as Jesus’ closest relationships were with those who obey the word, our closest relationships should be with those who obey the word as well. Stop and think for a minute. Whom would you call your top three best friends? Do they obey the word of God? Would Jesus call them his mother and his brothers? If not, maybe it’s time to invest into some new friendships. If so, then let those friends know how much you appreciate them. Remind them that they are like family to you. As the proverb says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Do something special for a sister in Christ today!