Jeremiah 12-14
2 Timothy 1
“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:17
Families are complicated. As soon as we start talking about family, a lot of big emotions arise; some of them are really wonderful and some of them are very difficult. Personally, I (Sandra Ryan) struggle with the whole “in-law” thing, such as mother-in-law and son-in-law. Why? Because it is as if we are saying they are “like” family, but they are not really family; we take a step back and hold them at arm’s length.
As believers in Christ, we are called to be family. We are family, not we are “like” family, because Jesus does not love at arm’s length and He does not call us to take a step back, stay safe and stay comfortable. Instead, He encourages us to enter into the complex nature of what it means to be in a real relationship. John writes, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Not only does John tell us that we are “children of God!” he emphasizes this point by declaring, “that is what we are!” We are not to keep this truth at arm’s length!
What do we believe happens when we put our faith in Jesus? A new way of looking at the world, a new teaching, a new philosophy, a new religion? Or is it a complete transformation—passing from death to life and we become born again? As a Christian, we are a new creation in Christ, whereby we understand things differently and have a new lease on life. What happens among us when that happens within us? The love of Jesus lavished upon us by the Father makes us children of God so that we can call Him “Father.” We are born again into the family of God.
There is a contrast between “being like family” and “being family.” “Being like family” is when we go to church, we smile, wave at people and then sit on our own. “Being family” means we wait expectantly for people, keeping a watch for them because we want to sit with them and find out how they are doing. “Being like family” means we pass by someone and tell them, “I’ll be praying for you.” “Being family” means we actually pray for them and follow up to see how they are doing the next week and the week after.
As Christians, we are not like family; we are family. How can we embrace being family with other believers?
Father God, thank You that I am Your child. While family is never easy, I ask that You help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ as family. Amen!
2 Timothy 1
“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:17
Families are complicated. As soon as we start talking about family, a lot of big emotions arise; some of them are really wonderful and some of them are very difficult. Personally, I (Sandra Ryan) struggle with the whole “in-law” thing, such as mother-in-law and son-in-law. Why? Because it is as if we are saying they are “like” family, but they are not really family; we take a step back and hold them at arm’s length.
As believers in Christ, we are called to be family. We are family, not we are “like” family, because Jesus does not love at arm’s length and He does not call us to take a step back, stay safe and stay comfortable. Instead, He encourages us to enter into the complex nature of what it means to be in a real relationship. John writes, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Not only does John tell us that we are “children of God!” he emphasizes this point by declaring, “that is what we are!” We are not to keep this truth at arm’s length!
What do we believe happens when we put our faith in Jesus? A new way of looking at the world, a new teaching, a new philosophy, a new religion? Or is it a complete transformation—passing from death to life and we become born again? As a Christian, we are a new creation in Christ, whereby we understand things differently and have a new lease on life. What happens among us when that happens within us? The love of Jesus lavished upon us by the Father makes us children of God so that we can call Him “Father.” We are born again into the family of God.
There is a contrast between “being like family” and “being family.” “Being like family” is when we go to church, we smile, wave at people and then sit on our own. “Being family” means we wait expectantly for people, keeping a watch for them because we want to sit with them and find out how they are doing. “Being like family” means we pass by someone and tell them, “I’ll be praying for you.” “Being family” means we actually pray for them and follow up to see how they are doing the next week and the week after.
As Christians, we are not like family; we are family. How can we embrace being family with other believers?
Father God, thank You that I am Your child. While family is never easy, I ask that You help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ as family. Amen!
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