Family Dynamics
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5
"Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:35).
Oh, the beautiful, messy families we have. The eccentric aunt or uncle, the wayward brother or sister, the overbearing parent, the passive parent who acts oblivious to it all . . . and, none of it comes as a surprise to God.
When we consider the families in the Holy Bible, they were no different and no less quirky or painful than what many experience today. But Scripture tells us that family is defined differently for the believer in Jesus.
In Matthew 12:46-50 we read Jesus words, "While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'”
If we are doing the will of Jesus, then He is our father and we have the best siblings imaginable.
So as we consider the dynamics of this new family we have been adopted into, let us remember to love and speak truth to one another as the Scripture says.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (I John 4:7).
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
Love is the family dynamic that matters.
Goodnight, Runners.
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