In the family:

Recently I was reading the book, “Uncommon Ground.”  This book is written by Timothy Keller and John Inazu.  However, they do ask other writers and followers of God to also write chapters.  The first chapter of the book that I read was by a theologian Kristen Deede Johnson.  She talked about the reasons that she wanted to go into theology.  She discussed that when studying theology, she would meet many people who think differently than her.  She realized that no matter in what position she would be in life, she would be meeting those who believe different things than herself, and yet it is still her responsibility as a member of the family of God to develop relationships with them.  

One part of her chapter that really stood out to me was when Kristen realizes that she has always looked at her relationship with God as an individual, rather than when one becomes  a Christian, they are now a part of God’s family.  She admitted that she often believed that she would see her walk with the Lord as what she needs to do and what she needs to get done.  She believed that she needed to do everything, and she didn’t think that she could depend on those who were also brothers and sisters in Christ.  She started to realize that she needed to start looking to her brothers and sisters in Christ as almost teammates or family members instead of separate individuals.  

Kristen highlights a verse in the Bible of Ephesians 2:19, which says, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.”  There are many followers of Christ all over the world and in our local area.  There are times that I struggle with trying to meet new Christians.  I am not the best at taking the time at church to really get to know those who are also members.  I tend to want to get back home and prepare for the school week.  However, I should really remember that if I care about my family in Christ, that I need to take time to actually get to know them.  

I am hoping in the next few weeks to join a Bible Study group at my church of other Christian women.  My hope then is that I will really get to know these women, so I will be more willing to talk to them after the church service is over.  I have gotten to know some of the parents at the church from helping out in the youth groups, but I just don’t get to spend the time having those adult conversations.  When I am getting to know them, then I know there are many ways that I can then help them out and help them grow closer in their walk with the Lord.  

This also reminds me of the first disciples.  They did everything together.  They ate supper together, worshipped together, prayed together, and discipled others together.  They did this because it was going to make everyone stronger and it was because they did believe that they should be together as a family.  This was written in Acts 2:46-47.  “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”Again, they were growing in number because when they were acting like a model family, then there will be many others who will want to join them.  Similarly, if we have love for our fellow Christians and treat one another like family, we too can have many others want to join in the Christian walk and our Christian family.  

  We can often want to feel as though we live on an island, and I do believe that comes down a lot to our individualistic society thoughts and feelings in the United States.  We can believe that everything that we do on our own makes us better and stronger individuals.  However, there is so much more that we can accomplish when we work together.  We are not supposed to compete with one another but rather, we are supposed to work together, cheer each other on, and complete God’s work on earth.  

My challenge for all of you this week is to show a great deal of love to someone else who is a part of the family of God in your life.  Find a way to encourage them in their walk of life. One thing could always be seeing if there is anyone in the church who needs meals made for them, or an encouraging card for those who are struggling with their faith.   I know that there are times that I believe my main focus should be on serving non-believers in order to work on converting them to the Lord.  While it is important to focus attention on those who are not members of the body, so they may become members of the body, we also need to make sure that we are taking care of those who are in our “family” or in the body of Christ.  We need to make sure they are doing alright, and they are healthy.  If they are hurting, then they are a piece of the body, our body, of Christ who is hurting.