We are family!

As children of God, we have two families, each connected by blood. Our earthly family consists of people with whom we are blood related — parents, children, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. Our heavenly family is also determined by a bloodline — the blood of Jesus Christ.

God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… (Colossians 1:3)

God becomes our Father, too!

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

Jesus told us to, Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (Matthew 6:9)

Jesus is our brother.

This means, in addition to being our Savior and Lord, Jesus is our brother: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers [and sisters]. (Romans 8:29)

I found THIS article to be helpful in explaining what it means that Jesus is our brother:

Some cults have misinterpreted this verse to mean that Jesus was only the first of God’s many adopted children. However, in the Bible, the word firstborn does not always refer to physical or even spiritual birth; rather, being “firstborn” implies preeminence and position, as it is used in Psalm 89:27: “I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” In Jeremiah 31:9, God calls the nation of Israel His “firstborn son.” So when Paul uses the term firstborn in Romans 8:29, he means that Jesus holds the preeminent position of “only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16) and that, through His obedience to the Father, Christ made it possible for His holy Father to adopt unholy human beings as His own children. The resurrection of Christ was the first of many to follow, as God gathers His children home (1 Corinthians 15:20–23).

The article concludes with, Our heavenly Father wants His children to bear a family resemblance, and He gave us the perfect example in our big Brother, Jesus Christ.

We are siblings!

Hebrews 13:1 exhorts us to, Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 13:1) The above article also explains, The qualifier for being a brother or sister of Christ is “doing the will of the Father.” John 13 records the Passover meal that Jesus had with his twelve disciples. After dinner, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and then Judas left the room to betray Christ.

Eleven faithful disciples remained.

This is what Jesus said to the eleven “brothers”: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

By this all people will know. It should be obvious to all people who know us that members of the family of God love each other. How are we doing with loving people in the family of God? Are your Christian friends just people you meet with every once in a while for social events, a light bible study with some prayer, or are your Christian friends like family? This is an important question to ask because how we love each other is how those who know us know we love Christ.

It’s a big week for our family.

As we enter the week that leads to Easter Sunday and prepare to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior, let’s not just celebrate with our earthly families. Let’s consider whether we are treating fellow Christians as brothers and sister in Christ. We don’t become family when we inhabit the new heaven on earth together for all of eternity. We are family now.

We have a forever family that will never pass away.

Picture Explanation: This man has been going through a difficult time lately and we have been reminded that our Christian friends are just a text away every day of the year and even in the middle of the night. We truly have two families and we are so grateful. Easter this year will be so much more than going to church and enjoying the contents of an Easter basket.

Speaking of the reality of being a member of the family of God: If you are interested in being contacted to participate in a One Gritty Blink Bible study, click on the Oaks Ministries link below and send me an email so I can place you on a list to be contacted as online and face-to-face studies are planned. Let’s not just focus on things in this short life, but also what counts for eternity!

Note: No part of my posts are derived from A.I. Thoughts and writing stem from my mind and heart as I process life week-by-week and continue to grow in my understanding of God and how to apply His wisdom to the world around me.

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