LUKE 8:19-21 – Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

THEME OF THE DAY. BEARING FAMILY TRAITS. What are the ways we may affirm our adoption in God’s family? In the seeking of assurance of salvation, the Lord gives us many things from His Word from which assurance of being a child of God may be achieved. A great place to go to take “the tests of adoption” is the Apostle John’s first letter. Take time soon and read the letter. John writes for the purpose of obtaining assurance of salvation. As we read his letter, the evidences of being a child of God jump off the page. Truths like love for other Christians, sacrificially meeting the needs of other believers, forsaking the world, walking in righteousness, delightful fellowship with God and His people, a longing for heaven, and the ability to discern error are just a few.

In today’s scripture, we find two more family traits coming from the teaching of our Lord Jesus. Let us enter the scene. Our Lord’s mother and brothers are attempting to get close to Him but so are a lot of other people. Some well-meaning people are trying to jockey a position for His literal family access, but then the Lord makes a significant change of direction in the conversation. He turns it into a profound teaching moment for them and us. Go back and read His Words. From them, the Lord identifies two traits in those individuals who will be recognized as being in His forever family.

First is the hearing of God’s Word – “My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God.” This is not just audibly hearing the Word of God. We can hear but not really hear. Let Jesus explain this truth from His Parable of the Sower – “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:18-24). In the Parable, every person “heard” the Word, but only one “really heard” the Word – the last person in the Parable. What made the difference from the other three? Well, that leads to the next mark of adoption from Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus would further say, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” A true hearing of the Word always leads to doing the Word. Here we quickly know where we are in our relationship with the Lord. Obedience. To hear the Word of God spiritually and fruitfully is validated by our actively putting into our lives the Word heard. The opposite is equally true – when a hearing of the Word does not lead to a doing of the Word, we really didn’t hear the Word.

So, family traits. There are many. Read 1 John. The Lord adds two more – a hearing of His Word followed by a doing of His Word heard.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to be both a hearer and doer of Your Word affirming I am Your child.”

QUOTE: “Be careful how you hear the Word of God. True hearing of the Word always leads to doing the Word.”