Mark 3:34-35 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.”

This is such a fantastic statement. To think that Jesus considers us His family providing we obey the will of God is phenomenal. 

We put so much distance between ourselves and God. I know when I was very young I felt God was way up there somewhere far beyond my reach and I was down here somewhere. I revered God but felt the distance between Him and I was just so vast I never could think of being physically, intellectually or emotionally close to Him like a son should be to his father. 

But here Jesus calls me His brother. My three brothers here on earth and I were and still are very close and love being with one another. 

Jesus created me. God made me in His image. He gave me the opportunity by belief in Him to move from being His image to being His son. He gives me hope, joy, laughter. He takes my cares upon Himself. No depression. No anxiety. He died for me to recognize and achieve this opportunity. What more could He do to prove His love for us? Every one of us has to opportunity to be God’s child by expressing our free will to believe in Him and obey Him.

Why would anyone pass up such an opportunity for an eternal life of joy and love?