'' Who are my mother and 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.'' ''
As we are meditating on these Scriptures, as the Spirit of God helps us, let us learn what is our Father's will for us to do.
On what does our Father want us to set our eyes, in His kingdom ?
In the above Scripture, when Jesus' mother and brothers arrived, they sent someone in to call Jesus.They wanted Jesus to go out and receive them and perhaps escort them inside.
As we see, their eyes were set on '' recognition ''. But did they get what they wanted ?
We don't read Jesus going out and receiving them. Do we ?
Just because they claimed some relation to him, Jesus did not go out to greet them. They were apparently ignored.
Jesus instead recognised some others as his own. And these were those who were sitting around him, listening to what He was speaking.
Dear people, the eyes of these were set on the Lord. They were sitting in a circle around him, eagerly listening to the words of the Lord.
'' Mark 9: 7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud : '' This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him ! ''
Our Father's will for us, is to listen to the Son. And those people who were around him were doing what the Father wanted them to do.
And Jesus declared that those who do the will of the Father, are his brothers, mother and sisters.
Let us now look into some Scriptures in Acts, that will enlighten us on the serious impact of setting our eyes on wrong things in the kingdom of God.
In this portion of Scriptures, we read about a person named Simon , who was once a sorceror.
Let us see on what were Simon's eyes, after he accepted Jesus and was baptized.
'' Acts 8 : 9 - 13 Now for sometime a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, '' This man is the divine power known as the '' Great Power.''
They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. ''
Simon, who was a sorceror, and who earned a name as ' Great Power ' by his magic , believed in Jesus and was water baptized and started to follow Apostle Philip.
He followed Philip everywhere because he was astonished by the great signs and miracles he 'saw' .
And Jesus declared that those who do the will of the Father, are his brothers, mother and sisters.
Let us now look into some Scriptures in Acts, that will enlighten us on the serious impact of setting our eyes on wrong things in the kingdom of God.
In this portion of Scriptures, we read about a person named Simon , who was once a sorceror.
Let us see on what were Simon's eyes, after he accepted Jesus and was baptized.
'' Acts 8 : 9 - 13 Now for sometime a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, '' This man is the divine power known as the '' Great Power.''
They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. ''
Simon, who was a sorceror, and who earned a name as ' Great Power ' by his magic , believed in Jesus and was water baptized and started to follow Apostle Philip.
He followed Philip everywhere because he was astonished by the great signs and miracles he 'saw' .
So, Simon's eyes were on the miracles and signs the Lord was performing through apostle Philip.
When he saw the power that was flowing through the apostles, he tires to do something .
Let us read what he did :
'' Acts 8 : 18 - 23 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, '' Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. ''
Peter answered : '' May your money persih with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money ! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. ''
Simon offered money to the apostles, and tried to buy the gift of God.
When Simon set his eyes on the signs and miracles, instead of the miracle Maker, his mind began to ponder and dwell only on the signs and miracles.
And his heart developed a desire to get the same ability so that he too may lay hands and people will receive Holy Spirit.
His heart desired to get an image like that of apostles.
And he thought by offering money, he can get that ability.
When he saw the power that was flowing through the apostles, he tires to do something .
Let us read what he did :
'' Acts 8 : 18 - 23 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, '' Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. ''
Peter answered : '' May your money persih with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money ! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. ''
Simon offered money to the apostles, and tried to buy the gift of God.
When Simon set his eyes on the signs and miracles, instead of the miracle Maker, his mind began to ponder and dwell only on the signs and miracles.
And his heart developed a desire to get the same ability so that he too may lay hands and people will receive Holy Spirit.
His heart desired to get an image like that of apostles.
And he thought by offering money, he can get that ability.
Though he was water baptized, his heart was not right before God.
And for such a thought in his heart, the apostles expelled Simon from their ministry !
Had Simon set his eyes on the Lord, Lord would have surely given him His gifts and would have used him for His glory.
'' Luke 11 : 34, 35 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light.But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ''
Dear people, what we set our eyes on, is what our heart will long for.
If we set our eyes on the right things, our mind will dwell on the right things, and our heart will long for the same right things and we will tread on the right path.
And the light of God shines in us.
But if we set our eyes on wrong things, our mind will dwell on the same wrong things, and our heart begins to develop a desire for those wrong things, corrupting us from inside, and then darkness begins to dwell in us.
And for such a thought in his heart, the apostles expelled Simon from their ministry !
Had Simon set his eyes on the Lord, Lord would have surely given him His gifts and would have used him for His glory.
'' Luke 11 : 34, 35 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light.But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ''
Dear people, what we set our eyes on, is what our heart will long for.
If we set our eyes on the right things, our mind will dwell on the right things, and our heart will long for the same right things and we will tread on the right path.
And the light of God shines in us.
But if we set our eyes on wrong things, our mind will dwell on the same wrong things, and our heart begins to develop a desire for those wrong things, corrupting us from inside, and then darkness begins to dwell in us.
'' See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.''
As we are meditating on this dear child of God, introspect yourself ..
What are you setting your eyes on ?
Are you too setting them on the miracles and signs and wonders that God is performing, instead of God ?
Is your heart also desiring some kind of an image, and perhaps also giving you ideas how to get the image ?
If yes, then dear child of God, will not Jesus, who saved you, say the same thing to you that apostle Peter said to Simon ?
Will you too, not be expelled out of his kingdom, if your heart is not right before God ?
Now that you arrived in the kingdom of God, are you also standing and expecting Jesus to bestow on you some special recognition above others, like Mary and Jesus' brothers did when they arrived ? Then, will you too not be ignored like them ?
'' Mark 3: 31 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 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.'' ''
What are you setting your eyes on ?
Are you too setting them on the miracles and signs and wonders that God is performing, instead of God ?
Is your heart also desiring some kind of an image, and perhaps also giving you ideas how to get the image ?
If yes, then dear child of God, will not Jesus, who saved you, say the same thing to you that apostle Peter said to Simon ?
Will you too, not be expelled out of his kingdom, if your heart is not right before God ?
Now that you arrived in the kingdom of God, are you also standing and expecting Jesus to bestow on you some special recognition above others, like Mary and Jesus' brothers did when they arrived ? Then, will you too not be ignored like them ?
'' Mark 3: 31 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 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.'' ''
As the Spirit of God is speaking to us this hour dear people, let us learn to set our eyes on the Lord.
Let us learn to humble ourselves, and wait at the feet of the Lord, listening to His Word, and set our hearts on doing the Father's will.
Because, whoever does the Father's will , are the ones Jesus calls his own.
'' John 3 : 30 He must become greater, I must become less. ''
'' Titus 2 : 11- 14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say '' No '' to ungodliness and wordly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. ''
Let us learn to humble ourselves, and wait at the feet of the Lord, listening to His Word, and set our hearts on doing the Father's will.
Because, whoever does the Father's will , are the ones Jesus calls his own.
'' John 3 : 30 He must become greater, I must become less. ''
'' Titus 2 : 11- 14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say '' No '' to ungodliness and wordly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. ''
'' Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights. ''
( Habakkuk 3 : 17 - 19 )
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights. ''
( Habakkuk 3 : 17 - 19 )
Jesus, thank you for speaking to us this hour.
Forgive us if we have been expecting special treatments and recognition above others, in your kingdom and neglected to do your will.
Forgive us if we had set our eyes on the signs and miracles and wonders you are performing, and have not set on you.
I now decide to humbly wait at your feet, and listen to your words and do the will of the Father.
Help me to set my eyes on you and desire your righteousness alone.
For in you alone I am to be found and in you alone I am saved and reconciled to the Father.And you alone are to be my heart's desire.
To you be the glory, honor and power for ever and ever and ever.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
God Bless You.
Forgive us if we have been expecting special treatments and recognition above others, in your kingdom and neglected to do your will.
Forgive us if we had set our eyes on the signs and miracles and wonders you are performing, and have not set on you.
I now decide to humbly wait at your feet, and listen to your words and do the will of the Father.
Help me to set my eyes on you and desire your righteousness alone.
For in you alone I am to be found and in you alone I am saved and reconciled to the Father.And you alone are to be my heart's desire.
To you be the glory, honor and power for ever and ever and ever.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
God Bless You.
