CODE VIII 

I will treat all men and women as brothers and sisters. 

BIBLE READING: Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you. 'He replied to him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.' 

DEVOTIONAL: 

'A man ought to live so that everyone knows he is a Christian ... and most of all, his family ought to know.' D.L. Moody 

In the bible verses for today, Jesus expands the definition of family in a big way, after being told his family is outside Jesus points to his disciples and says 'here are my mother and my brothers. If you are doing the will of God we are family!'

Sadly, in the history of mankind we haven't always seen men and women treat one another with the pattern and framework we see in a healthy family. Love, security, respect, dignity, honour, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, graciousness, gentleness, kindness ... (starting to sound familiar?)

Instead we see men perpetrate violence against women, gangs destroying young lives and hope and trust completely eroded in some of our communities. Even if we scale this down a little, we can erode this principle when we gossip, back bite and criticise others. When we glimpse at the free preview of an adult channel it degrades the value of people and pulls us from the path Jesus calls us to walk. 

As Christian men we operate with an opposite spirit, and we understand what it means to honour and respect others, and treat ALL men and women as brothers and sisters. Not just the people we like, but we seek to be men that love the outcast, the violent man or abusive women. 

And that takes us on to why we choose to treat all men and women like this, it is so that Christ may be seen, and lives can be set free.

Understanding the will of God seems like a mystery until you get closer to Jesus, the plan was always about seeing Jesus. His life, death and resurrection is the will of God, not was, or will be but is!

Right now the cross of Christ Jesus and his resurrection is setting men and women free from sin. Right now. God's will is that we know it, hold it and trust it, we stand on it and fight for it to see not only our lives transformed but a nation and more! 

QUESTIONS:

• What has family looked like for you? Have you felt part of a family that was biologically yours?
• How have you treated other men and women? 
• Do you need to give some of this stuff to God and ask him for forgiveness?
• How can you treat others as brothers and sisters?

PRAYER:

Jesus, help us to really love others and in doing that genuinely, may you be glorified. Help us to know your will and be transformed in the way we think and act each day. Use us Lord to glorify your name, our captain and king. Amen