 It
is quite easy to forget what is happening in a church. We come and
worship and serve and learn and go home but we forget that we do
these things with our spiritual family. Jesus was quite clear in
his ministry that he held his spiritual family, those with whom he
shared faith and trust in God, in higher esteem than even his own
flesh and blood family. While it is unlikely that any of us would
be so willing to pass over our parents, siblings and children for
those with whom we share a pew on Sundays, it does not mean that
these people with whom we share faith should not be held in a higher
esteem in our lives.
Whoever shares our faith in Jesus Christ is our brother or our
sister. Even if we disagree with them on every other theological
issue, even if they are Republicans and we Democrats or vice versa,
even if we don't necessarily like them, we are their family and they
our own. In a day and age that has seen the fragmentation of
families and the erosion of social capital as we all go our own
ways, it is important for those of us in the Church to celebrate the
strong bonds of faith and community which stitch us together. It is
our duty to honor our brothers and sisters in love, humility and
peace as we remember that for all we disagree upon, we share
something far greater; faith in Jesus Christ and salvation in and
through Him. |
Prayer: Holy God, I pray for my brothers and sisters in
Christ. Help me, O Lord, to feel love them as best as I am able and
to serve them as I would serve my own family. I pray in the name of
Jesus the Christ. Amen.
[text from file received from Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian
Church]
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