Quest 10 - Behavior Matters

There is a common phrase uttered throughout Christianity that speaks to our souls. It’s a phrase that we are attracted to because it communicates a sense of community that we long for.

The phrase is, “You belong far before you believe or behave.”

I wholeheartedly believe that this phrase is an accurate representation of what Jesus is doing. He died on the cross for us, he sacrificed for us, he is working this plan for us and a lot of that occurred before we were even alive to believe or behave. It’s because Jesus has always wanted to invite us into a sense of belonging and community.

I love that about Jesus and his love for us. However, it has caused me to pause and think. Why, if Jesus has invited us to belong, why do so many people feel like they don’t belong? Why are we in a world where people feel isolated? Why is community one of the most attractive things that we talk about, but it doesn’t land throughout the entire world?

The scripture we read for Quest this week sums it up well:

Mark 3:31-35 “31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. 32 There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you. 33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

I’ll be honest with you, I always struggled with this scripture because it felt like Jesus in some forms was being rude and disrespectful towards His family. It’s easy to read that way and with that slant knowing our cultural understanding of our days. However, make sure you read Mark’s essay on this subject to really understand what Jesus was doing.

The shortened version of what I am trying to say is - the people sitting in the room belonged because of their behavior while the people outside of the room did not. The people in the room were obedient and listening, while the people outside of the room were not. It’s why Jesus said “Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Our behavior should be to do the will of God. That right there makes us feel like we belong.

I want to make sure I’m super clear on this because it’s important to discuss. We have always been invited to belong… Our actions dictate whether we actually belong or not.

So many people have a passive christianity. Where there is no action to back up what they are saying they believe. Those same people are in a place where they feel as though they don’t belong. What if the way to feel like you belong and that you are actually a part of the community is to go and do something?

I love sports metaphors so let’s go down that route. I can say that I am part of a football team all I want, but unless I go to practice, go to meetings, weight train, there is no way I am going to be able to play in the game or even dress for the game. My behaviors haven’t shown that I belong to the team, so I don’t.

When it comes to following Jesus. We have been invited, there is a chance for us to belong. We just have to take the steps to accept that invitation. What are the steps to accept the invitation?

1. Listen

If you notice in the story, there was a group of people sitting around Jesus and this is a posture of listening. His family was trying to get to him and this is a posture of talking. If we want to belong, we have to begin to listen to Jesus rather than trying to get our own agenda across. We need to listen to His words, His ways, and His instructions because he is the one who dictates life, not us.

2. Learn the will of God.

As you listen, what you will be doing is learning the will of God. God has a way that he wants us to live. This goes back to the idea of behavior. The will of God is out there for everyone to follow. As you follow, that is how we truly live! The will of God gives us everything we need to live, experience, and belong. Matthew 4:4 says this, “‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

3. Live it out

Listening and learning will only get us so far, if we aren’t willing to put this into practice, then we are missing the entire point of all of this.

James 1:22 says this, “22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

The blessing is belonging.

We have been invited to belong for a really long time, I know so many people are trying to find this sense of community, it’s there for all of us. As we see in this scripture, there are things we have to do as well.

Remember - “You belong far before you believe or behave.”

But also - “Believing and behaving show you belong.”