And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 ESV
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19
When I was a kid, the only heat in my grandmother’s house was a gas heater in the living room. It had a line from the propane tank outside with a shut-off valve and no pilot light. We lit it with a kitchen match that you can strike on the floor (someone explain that to the kids), then waited for the ceramic tiles behind the flames to turn red. Toasty on a chilly morning.
For cooling, we had a window fan. That’s right. A box fan jammed in the window. If you got hot at night, you pulled the bed closer, took off all the covers, and put a wet washcloth on your face. All of this sounds primitive indeed to those who are accustomed to central heat and air. We all tend to take things for granted when they are a regular part of our lives. Yesterday’s miracles are today’s norms.
We do the same with language. Frequently used words lose their power over time. Think of “awesome” and “amazing” used to describe ice cream or hair gel. In the Church, I think we have lost our sense of wonder at being children in the family of Almighty God. Just think, of all the titles the Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the universe could have given us to call Him, He chose “Father.” God is our Father. This is truly amazing.
Because He is our Father, the New Testament tells us to love one another as brothers and sisters. This terminology is used more than fifty times in the epistles. When you gave your life to Jesus, you became part of the family, the household of God. That’s awesome!
Over time, I think we become “church-numb.” If I stop to think about what the word “awesome” is supposed to mean, I probably wouldn’t use it to describe a bowl of chili. The same is true with “amazing.” In the same way, we use the words “brother” and “sister,” to talk about our church family, but it’s not a reality for us. That’s clear from how we greet and treat one another.
Whether we act like it or not, if we have committed our lives to Christ and believed on His name, we are children of the same Father. We are family. As with your natural clan, you may have some siblings you don’t like. You may disagree with one another, but you’re still family. You were born that way. Likewise the church.
When we gather to worship, pray, and learn, we also gather to strengthen our family relationships. Aim to treat your family with kindness, respect, and concern for their well-being. Consider how your elder brother, Jesus, would want you to treat one another. Ask Him to help you see others as He does. There is a blessing in being part of this family.
So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 ERV
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