“Spiritual family is defined by those who love and obey God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 29, 2025
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Luke 8:19-21
Do you have friends who love Jesus and with whom you feel closer than your biological family? I do. It used to bother me that I couldn’t connect deeply with those who share my last name, until I read Jesus’ words. It was such a relief when He clarified the importance of spiritual connection in relationships. There are limits to relationships with those who don’t know the Lord. When Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived wanting to speak with Him, His response must have shocked everyone listening. Instead of going to them immediately, He pointed to His disciples and said, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” This wasn’t Jesus being disrespectful to Mary and His siblings—it was Him redefining what family really means in God’s kingdom. Spiritual family is defined by those who love and obey God.
Spiritual kinship runs deeper than blood ties. You may share DNA with someone and still remain strangers spiritually. But when you find people who genuinely seek to listen to and obey God’s Word, you’ve discovered your true family. The keyword here is “obedience.” It’s not enough to sit in church, nod at sermons, or even get emotional during worship. Avoid “passive hearers”—people who listen but never let God’s Word change how they live. A genuine spiritual family forms when people are committed to both hearing and doing. When someone faces a tough decision, they turn to Scripture for guidance and follow it. When God’s Word challenges their priorities, they adjust their lives accordingly. When they see a need, they respond with action, not just sympathy. Be with those who want to be like and live like Jesus!
Those who love Jesus can form bonds deeper than kin. You’ll find yourself more connected to a fellow believer who shares your commitment to obedience than to relatives who don’t share your faith. That’s not callousness—that’s the reality of spiritual transformation. Examine yourself honestly: Are you just a religious consumer, or are you an active participant in God’s family? Do you hear the Word and shrug, or do you hear it and think, “What needs to change in my life?” That’s the difference between being passively part of the crowd and actively belonging to the family. Spiritually engaged relationships involve praying, serving, and loving together!
So, how do you love family members with whom you have no spiritual connection? Love them through generous actions, not arguments about faith. Show up for birthdays, graduations, and tough seasons without expecting spiritual conversations in return. Listen to their concerns without quoting scripture verses piously. Respect their choices while holding onto your own convictions. Pray for them privately rather than pressuring them publicly. Find common ground—shared memories, mutual interests, family traditions that don’t require faith discussions. Demonstrate Christ’s love through patience, kindness, and genuine care for their well-being. Your transformed life may speak louder than words ever could. Remember that spiritual growth is God’s work, not yours. Your job is simply to love them faithfully. You obey the Lord when you love your family well, trusting the Holy Spirit is drawing their hearts toward God’s heart.
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’… And immediately he [the jailer] and all his family were baptized” (Acts 16:30,33).
Prayer
Father, thank You for my spiritual family. I embrace them with love, grace, and unity. Help me cherish their fellowship, serve with joy, and reflect Christ together in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Who in your biological family needs your prayers to come back to the Lord? Consider praying for them daily for the next 30 days.
Related Reading
Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 3:8
Worship Resource
Celtic Worship: Come Thou Fount
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