How Do I Love God's Family?

As a child, I knew the tension of living in a fractured family. But even though my earthly family was broken, God provided a beautiful church family full of loving and caring adults my brothers and I desperately needed. When I look back at some of my life’s happiest moments and darkest days, I see a local church encouraging, loving and serving our family as the very hands and feet of Christ. I had the privilege of being raised by a Church, the local body of believers God placed in our family at just the right time.

Throughout the New Testament God shows us just how important a local body of believers is. He equipped and gifted believers to serve each other in love. In the book of Acts we see the believers eating and worshiping together, serving widows and even helping Paul in the early days of his conversion. The book of First Peter reminds us to serve the body of Christ with our gifts; and in Galatians, Paul encourages us to do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of God.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where or how God is calling us to serve others. But God strategically places us in local churches so we can follow Him together in community and reach those around us who are far from Him. This week, as you talk about the family of God, consider the ways God has gifted your family to serve those around you. You never know, God may be using your family to show a child His great love.