3:215 – What is Family?

#faithbites #faithjourney family

Setting

I’ve been thinking a lot about family and it’s meaning. With grandpa Bob passing this week, a wedding this coming week, an installation of a new pastor at our church, our place as children of God, my girls referring to my best friend as uncle, me referring to a close colleague at work as my work wife. What does family mean?

For many, it’s your flesh and blood family you are born into. Other consider their in laws as family. Some are closer to their friends that their biological family. Still others have their work or their church friends as family.

I don’t know if there is a right or wrong answer to this. There are so many qualifiers. I think the right answer is anyone you consider part of your family is your family. Blood or no blood.

Jesus died for everyone to be adopted onto God’s family. All we have to do is accept that sacrifice as a gift.

Scripture

• 1 John 3:1-2 – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
• Ephesians 2:19-22 – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
• Romans 12-5 – So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another

Reflection

We have our blood family for better or worse. This is given to us as part of our first birth. Some win the familial lottery while others strikeout. Our second birth in Christ gives us a near-infinite family to love and who support us.

I have been blessed to have many “dads”, “moms”, “brothers and sisters”, and “spouses”. I truly believe God has put his children my path to enrich my family and help me in my path. We are blessed by this family of God because we believe in God.

I am truly grateful for a friend who is as close brothers, in-laws and friends who are surrogate parents and grandparents, colleagues who compliment me at work, a new man chosen to serve at Trinity, and just having this extended family.

We all are entitled to this through Christ. All we have to do is accept his love and nurture our new families. We are truly blessed to not only have our flesh and blood family but our extended family in Christ.

Challenge

Who is your family? Can you even name them all? Take today to truly appreciate all of those people who are as closer to you as blood or even closer. Thank God for those people he sent to be partners in your journey through life.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for our flesh and blood family. We are blessed to be born into their arms. You knew that even that wasn’t enough, so you made all people part of our family. Help our extra brothers, sisters, parents, faith leaders, guardians, and guides. Remind us to seek their guidance and to protect them as fiercely as we would our blood. As your Son gave his blood for us to be forgiven and be part of your family.

Lord Jesus, we give a special call out to Pastor David McBurney as he joins your Trinity Lutheran Family as an Associate Pastor. We welcome him with your open arms and love him. Thank you for sending him to us. In your name, Amen.