The other day, I was talking to a friend and the subject of family came up. We both discussed about how we have people in our family that aren’t the best moral people, but it is important to remember is that we have a better family and that is what I want to study today. There is no denying the importance of family. When we think of family, we normally think of brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. If you are like me, then family is a huge priority and you would do anything for your family. Unfortunately, in most families, we have those who want to be a part of this world. They get involved with alcohol, drugs, sexual immorality, and other pleasures of sin. Would you still consider them your family? Would you still do anything for them?

What if I were to tell you that if you are a Christian, then you have another family? A family who believes the same as you do; one that fights the temptations of sin and wants to strive to please God and to worship Him. We have that family. All of us are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Today, I want to look a couple of aspects that we would consider essential for our earthly family that we should apply to our godly family.

First, we need to always be there for one another. Just like you would go out of your way to help someone in your earthly family, the same kind of love should be directed to our godly family. In John 13:34, Jesus gives us this command, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” If we look at Romans 5:8, Paul reminds us of Christ’s love by saying, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Also, the apostle John in 1 John 4:19-21 tells us not only Christ loved us, but emphasizes how important it is that we love one another. The scripture says, “We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” If they are our family, then this should be our top priority. Christians need to consider this as important as every other commandment that God has given us.

Second, I’ve always been curious why we feel like we only need to communicate with our brethren on Sundays and Wednesdays. We should talk to our brothers and sisters daily; that way it is easier to open up to one another struggles that we are having. How else can we truly say we care about them? If we only talk to them at most three times a week, being with them for only a few hours, how can we really know who they are? We need to make phone calls and go to visit our members, building our relationship with one another. We can’t get through this world alone. We need to rely on one another.

Paul tells us in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse brings to mind the hymn, “Bear Another’s Burden”. The lyrics read, “Will you share my burden brother? Will you help me through my trial? Christ said love and serve each other. Will you walk his second mile? Will you soothe my brow, dear sister? Will you hold my hand through pain? Will your hands help others, sister, serving daily in His name? I will share your cares, dear brother, as my Lord of love commands. I will ease your heartache sister, give you strength to help you stand. For the Lord our God is watching and He’s working through His children. Will you bear another’s burden? Will you share our load today?” Let’s work on building our relationships with all of our brethren. That way, we can fulfill this Bible command.

In continuing to grow in the grace of God and building our relationships with our brothers and sisters, I want you to think about the first verse and the chorus to “God’s Family”. It reads, “We’re part of the family that’s been born again. Part of the family whose love knows no end. For Jesus has saved us, and made us his own, now we’re part of the family that’s on its way home. And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry; Sometimes we share together, heartaches and sighs; Sometimes we dream together of how it will be; When we all get to Heaven, God’s family.” In Romans 12:10, Paul says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love …” Let’s truly be the family that God would have us to be.

Joseph Lachausse