Friday night I was watching a move that made me ponder what is commonly considered true family. We have the family of course that we were born into, we have the family that we marry into and we also have the family that we choose and that chooses us.
Legally, our family is considered blood relatives, legal adoptions and those we marry, however, in the bible the body of believers is often referred to as the “family” of believers. We are referred to as God’s children, and the brothers and sisters of Jesus.
Hebrews 2:11 (NIV) “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
Are these family ties any less than the families we are born into? I started to wonder if that if I truly believe that “blood is thicker than water” and treat my spiritual family without the same regard as my physical family am I missing out on my inheritance?
In Genesis God tells Abram to leave his mother and father to follow Him. He tells Abram that all the people of the world will be blessed through him.
Genesis 12:1- 3 (NIV) “The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
From this promise, the Hebrews consider themselves children (the physical descendants) of Abraham; The chosen people of God.
Through Jesus we have been adopted into the family.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message) How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
It was by His design that by faith in Christ Jesus we became His children….
Romans 9:6-8 (NIV) “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.”
Galatians 3:7-9 (NIV) “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. “
Now in our blood families, we have those that we get along with, and those that we don’t, but because of blood ties we forgive each other. We feel the need to forgive them…..We feel the need to love them unconditionally. Why then do we not feel this with our chosen family?
I am not saying that we condone each others bad behavior, but we try to remain understanding and love them regardless. When our children make poor choices, we are disappointed, but do we stop loving them? By no means! Why then is our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ so conditional, so legalistic? Why do we not show the same measure of forgiveness?
God holds no greater respect for one person over another in His family. He loves us all and gives us all the same opportunity and grace.
Romans 3:22 - 24 (NIV) “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
During the holiday seasons we all endure family get-together’s with that one gossipy aunt or one uncle who drinks a little too much and gets a little too flirty, but we enjoy ourselves and have a good time with those we love. (Thank you Jamie for this insight)
During this holiday season I challenge those who have strayed away from their brothers and sisters in Christ to show the same acceptance as you would a blood relation. Come and have fellowship with those you love. Accept one another “warts and all”. Understand that we all have our hang-ups and we work through them the best we can. It is only when we stand together and with God that we can truly overcome.
Revelation 21:7 (NIV) “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
I love my Physical, Adopted, and Chosen family……All the same! <3
Legally, our family is considered blood relatives, legal adoptions and those we marry, however, in the bible the body of believers is often referred to as the “family” of believers. We are referred to as God’s children, and the brothers and sisters of Jesus.
Hebrews 2:11 (NIV) “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
Are these family ties any less than the families we are born into? I started to wonder if that if I truly believe that “blood is thicker than water” and treat my spiritual family without the same regard as my physical family am I missing out on my inheritance?
In Genesis God tells Abram to leave his mother and father to follow Him. He tells Abram that all the people of the world will be blessed through him.
Genesis 12:1- 3 (NIV) “The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
From this promise, the Hebrews consider themselves children (the physical descendants) of Abraham; The chosen people of God.
Through Jesus we have been adopted into the family.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message) How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
It was by His design that by faith in Christ Jesus we became His children….
Romans 9:6-8 (NIV) “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.”
Galatians 3:7-9 (NIV) “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. “
Now in our blood families, we have those that we get along with, and those that we don’t, but because of blood ties we forgive each other. We feel the need to forgive them…..We feel the need to love them unconditionally. Why then do we not feel this with our chosen family?
I am not saying that we condone each others bad behavior, but we try to remain understanding and love them regardless. When our children make poor choices, we are disappointed, but do we stop loving them? By no means! Why then is our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ so conditional, so legalistic? Why do we not show the same measure of forgiveness?
God holds no greater respect for one person over another in His family. He loves us all and gives us all the same opportunity and grace.
Romans 3:22 - 24 (NIV) “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
During the holiday seasons we all endure family get-together’s with that one gossipy aunt or one uncle who drinks a little too much and gets a little too flirty, but we enjoy ourselves and have a good time with those we love. (Thank you Jamie for this insight)
During this holiday season I challenge those who have strayed away from their brothers and sisters in Christ to show the same acceptance as you would a blood relation. Come and have fellowship with those you love. Accept one another “warts and all”. Understand that we all have our hang-ups and we work through them the best we can. It is only when we stand together and with God that we can truly overcome.
Revelation 21:7 (NIV) “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
I love my Physical, Adopted, and Chosen family……All the same! <3
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