God's family

We all belong to a variety of communities. It could be a group at school. Maybe a club or team. Even your family is a community. But there is one community that we have that is above everyone other. The apostle Peter describes it this way…

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Peter says that we are God’s special possession. You and I are called into a community, a nation, a family of people, who have a special relationship with God. It is a relationship that has, for centuries, brought together people of every race, tribe, and nationality. It trumps every other allegiance we have.

However, many of us fail to live to the calling we have. We allow other things to be more important than the community God has called us into. We often neglect the relationships with the people who are a part of the community that is God’s church. This neglect sometimes results in shallow relationships, but it also can go as far as hurting our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The apostle John wrote, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:20-21)

Those are pretty strong words, but they are words we cannot ignore. John is stating that we cannot love God and yet hate our brothers and sisters in Christ. We cannot gossip about them, put them down, turn our back on them, treat them with disrespect, or disregard them. This is an essential part of our life as followers of Christ. If we love God, John says that we will love those who are in the family of God.

The most damaging thing for most churches – and most youth groups – is not the influence of the culture, although that is a significant issue. The most damaging thing for many youth groups and churches is the disunity that exists within the family of God. Paul tells us the following…

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Are you honoring the name you represent, the name of God? Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you show humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace as you interact with those who are a part of the body of Christ? The answers to these question may be some of the most important as you consider how to live as a member of God’s family.

 

shine!
Jason