Family Of Faith… “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50
Are you engaged with a community of Christ followers? Some of your family members may have forsook you for your faith, but Jesus can more than compensate with those that love Him and His children. You have a family of faith that longs to love you. Have you initiated relationships at church or a Bible study? Look around you to love and be loved.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42b-43).
Be with those who want to do the will of their Heavenly Father and you will want to do the will of your Heavenly Father. The family of faith is contagious in its commitment to Christ. But how do you respond to relatives who want to pull you away from the presence of Jesus? How do you stay true to the Lord when there is tension over your trust in Him?
You can’t ignore them–even when they are unruly–because God has family in your life to be a reflection of Him. Your behavior may be the only Bible they read and your words may be the only Jesus they hear. You know better, so you forgive and extend grace, while unbelieving family members do not know any better than to be harsh and hold grudges.
At times lean into your family of faith, so you in turn can lovingly serve your family outside the faith. Moreover, look for believers in your life who need family and invite them into yours. We need each other, for the Body of Christ is connected and sensitive to one another’s needs. When you have Jesus as a friend, you have a family in the faith.
Paul said, “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4).
Who do I count as family in the faith? How can I bless them? Who needs me to be family for them?
Related Readings: Ruth 3:13; Matthew 19:29; Luke 2:49; 1 Timothy 5:8
