Being Family

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” - John 1:12

You’ve heard this verse before, or at least heard it talked about, but I think you should go back and read it again…go ahead, I’ll wait.

Did you catch it? If you’ve received Christ, you’ve been given the RIGHT to become children of God. This is an amazing thing. We’ve been adopted into the family of God. My family has been through the process of adoption, more than once actually. When we adopted our son, he became ours, but more than that, we became his. Not only is he my son, I am his father. He has all the rights of a son - carries my last name and fits right in. But also, as his father, I look at him as a son. He is no different than my biological children. I love him. He is not like a son to me, he is my son.

As Christians, we are not like children of God, we are children of God. As children, we need to BE part of the family. This goes beyond the relationship between you and the Father, but extends to the brother and sisters that come with the family of God.

My son received me as a father, my wife as a mother, two brothers, and a sister. We are all together as a family. As family, the way that we treat one another is important. My family knows all of my difficult days, they know the areas where I struggle, and they are there to support me. My sons and daughters support one another.

When it comes to our church family, we tend to neglect those who are not close to us. I’ve seen it time and time again where people in the church will lash out and attack other members of the church family, not due to sin, but simply because they disagree with them over something. This ought not be so. We are called to love one another (John 13:34), but we are also called to bear with one another (Col 3:13). Do you bear with those who think differently than you, or do you attack them? Do you bear with those who have hurt you, or do you lash out?

Do not sin against your brother just because you think you’re right. Remember, our response to sin can be sinful. Don’t fall into the trap. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, to walk a mile in the other persons shoes. Seek to know them or understand them. Seek to love them, genuinely.

Read Romans 12. Pray on it. Seek to apply it in your life and in your family.