Another passage has caught my attention a few times over the past couple weeks.  This passage happens to come from Luke 11:27-28.  This passage takes place while Jesus is instructing a particular crowd about the Kingdom of God being in their midst.

“While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.’ But He said, ‘On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it’” (Luke 11:27-28, NASB).

Often we want to acknowledge and bless individuals based on association.  Typically this is also united to an agenda as we desire also to be blessed by some sort of association.  As we know that Mary was blessed richly for her obedience to God, Jesus’ response to the statement must’ve been as a result of an unspoken agenda.  Jesus didn’t agree that His mother was blessed and then offer correction, but He said, “on the contrary” in response.  It was the direct statement of the most important part of our lives, our obedience to God and His word.  Mary wasn’t blessed because she bore Jesus or because she nursed him.  Mary was blessed because she heard the voice of God and was obedient to what she heard.

This wasn’t the first time Jesus shared these words about obedience when it came to His mother.  Word was reported to Jesus that his mother and brothers were waiting to see Him.  Jesus responded to them by saying, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21, NASB).  It is not about who we know or who we are associated with.  Who your family is doesn’t matter.  What church you attend or what small group you are a part of doesn’t matter.  These all have their place in building us up, but it is not most important.  What is most important is that you hear the voice of God and are obedient to what you hear!  I desire to live a faith-full life in obedience to His voice, His word!