There is no escaping family. What one family member does,
directly affects the other members. I think we don’t always recognize this.
Instead we say, “Oh that’s her problem not mine.� Or, “If that’s how he’s going
to act then let him. Whatever.� The only problem is that every family has an
invisible thread – so transparent that it’s easily overlooked, or better yet
ignored…yet it runs through every heart binding them together. Because of
this bond we find ourselves rejoicing when another family member rejoices, or sometimes
feel hurt, abandoned, confused, or frustrated by another family member’s words
and actions.
directly affects the other members. I think we don’t always recognize this.
Instead we say, “Oh that’s her problem not mine.� Or, “If that’s how he’s going
to act then let him. Whatever.� The only problem is that every family has an
invisible thread – so transparent that it’s easily overlooked, or better yet
ignored…yet it runs through every heart binding them together. Because of
this bond we find ourselves rejoicing when another family member rejoices, or sometimes
feel hurt, abandoned, confused, or frustrated by another family member’s words
and actions.
Before I move any further I want to define “family.� I want
us to move beyond the traditional definition so we can start recognizing a
broader perspective. A perspective that I believe God designed from the
beginning.
us to move beyond the traditional definition so we can start recognizing a
broader perspective. A perspective that I believe God designed from the
beginning.
According to the Oxford American Dictionary:
FAMILY:
1. A group consisting of parents and children living
together in a household
together in a household
2. A group of people related to one another by blood or
marriage
marriage
3. A group of people united in criminal activity (my
favorite)
favorite)
According to the Bible:
FAMILY:
1. Ephesians 2:19- “You are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household
but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household
2. Galatians 6:10- “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let
us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of
believers
us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of
believers
3. Romans
12:4-5- “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members
do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.
12:4-5- “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members
do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.
When we combine the traditional definition of family with
God’s definition, we discover a much deeper and broader interpretation. Of
course, if you take Jesus out of the picture we are only left with the
traditional definition. I LOVE God’s definition a lot better.
God’s definition, we discover a much deeper and broader interpretation. Of
course, if you take Jesus out of the picture we are only left with the
traditional definition. I LOVE God’s definition a lot better.
