Family is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit or all the descendants of a common ancestor. Encyclopedia Brittanica depicts family as; a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parents, children, and siblings. I grew up in what would be called a traditional family. My parents married in their early twenties; created their family, had me and my siblings; expanded their family and embraced relatives and friends; extending their family. God was the center of our family and regular church attendance was required. Our home was the center of the family gatherings, where love, connection and relationships flourished. Our home was where others came for healing, help and hope. My family of origin was often viewed as ideal; let me be clear, we had and have our “stuff” and we were in no way perfect but many onlookers admired what we had.
God, The Father, set family at the center of His plan for the happiness and progress of His children. Throughout The Word of God their are multiple and varied examples of family. There are 123 references to family in the King James version. God blesses, encourages and loves family. Biblically, our relationship with Him is explained in family terms. God is our Heavenly Father, His Only Begotten Son, Jesus is our Savior. All kinds of families are represented in the Bible, many of which are happy, healthy, loving and strong. Adam and Eve are the first example of a traditional family, Jephthah exemplifies a single-male led family, Mordecai exemplifies extended family, Mary and Joseph exemplify a blended family and Lois and Eunice exemplify a female led inter-generational family (Genesis 1:26-27, Judges 11:34, Esther 2:7, Matthew 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:5).
Family matters! The familial lineage lists, which are often skipped or glossed over (as many of us read the Bible) have meaning and are important. Family has generational impact both good and bad. Throughout scripture individuals were blessed, celebrated, cursed, redeemed because of their family connections. Through Abram’s relationship with God, all families of the earth were blessed (Genesis 12:2-3). My sister, your relationship with God. The Father, can and will impact the lives of those connected to you. Yes, your relationship with God can set the stage for generations to come. Do not hide your relationship with The Father from others, your membership in His family; through the shed blood of His Son (Your Savior). Please express it, speak of it and wear it boldly for all to see. Your relationship with God can be instrumental in the salvation of your family members when you live unashamedly in humble submission to God’s will for your life (1 Corinthians 7:14). I am not talking about wearing physical things like a gigantic cross or scripture on plastered on every outfit. Neither am I suggesting speaking in tongues irresponsibly or reciting scripture throughout conversations without relevance, or slathering everyone you encounter with oil as you forcefully pray for them. What I am talking about is truly living your faith before others by doing what God requires (Micah 6:8, Matthew 12:29-33).
Family Matters! Jesus, The Apostle Paul and our community add layers to the definition of family; not only being relegated to bloodline connection. Jesus says, “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50. Paul, the spiritual father of Timothy and Titus, teaches that we should treat those we are connected to in our faith community as family (1 Timothy 5:1-2). This does not mean that we have permission to dishonor or disregard our blood family, but it does give room for an expanded understanding of family. If you blood family caused you pain or trauma; give them to God and pray for healing, according to His perfect will. The church has been described as the family of God’s people who love Him and each other as He commands (Mark 12:30-31, Ephesians 2:19-22). My sister, pun intended, we are children of The Most High God, connected by adoption into His family through the shed blood of Jesus, His Son, our Savior (1 John 3:1-2). It is an awesome gift to belong to a family in which we are accepted, celebrated, cherished, loved and completely forgiven! Not only do we receive immeasurably favor and freedom, we become brand new when we are adopted into the Family of God (2 Corinthian 5:17). I am forever grateful for the great privilege of being a part of God’s family (Ephesians 1:3-5).
Family matters! Whether family by blood or by faith, God chose to use family to teach us about Himself. He used the institution of marriage to depict the faithful love between Jesus the Christ and the church, His Bride. He used the principles of parenting to illustrate the way to show the way He, our Heavenly Father lovingly cares for, directs, disciplines, instructs and provides for us. He used the idea of children to demonstrate the love, honor and obedience we owe while attempting to be more like Him. God expects the members of His family, His children to have a transformative presence in this sin-sick world. Daily, you and I, His daughters, are to demonstrate the sanctification process of becoming more like Jesus; being and reflecting His never ending love. By doing so, we assist in expanding the Family of God by example and invitation as we extend His love, grace and mercy to those we encounter (Colossians 3:12-13). Being a part of the Family of God seals our citizenship in Heaven when this earthly life is over. I do not know about you but I am looking forward to the big family reunion that will take place when Jesus, our Savior returns.
Join me Under The Church Hat for this month’s exercise:
Write down your family lineage, in family tree style and spend time each day during this month praying for each family member listed.
Using less than 250 words, write a prayer off thanksgiving for the privilege of belonging to the Family of God.
Identify someone who you will prayerfully bring into the Family of God this month. In less than 250 words, write your plan to intentionally lead them to Christ.
God chose you, before the beginning of to be in His family, chose a hymn or song which highlights that you belong to Him. Listen to that hymn or song every day this month.
Choose a passage of scripture from this months devotion to meditate upon throughout the month.