January 2010

The Importance Of Family

John 19:26-27 : When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"
Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

Jesus knew that family care is the best care that can be given to hold together the structure of society. We see today that society has broken down and we reap the effects of that with the culture of single parents and struggling children trying to cope with life and finding authority and discipline difficult to come to terms with.

The dictionary says of Family: A set of relations living together or not; the members of a household; a persons children all the descendants of a common ancestor; a group of peoples from a common stock.
Right from the beginning of time God recognised that we need companions to co-exist with.
Genesis 2:18-25

The twelve tribes of Israel were all named after the children of Jacob.

In the New Testament we see right from early on, support and love and help were given to one another through the disciples loving and caring for one another.

Jesus gathered to himself twelve main disciples to be that close family during ministry. For three years they were together sharing joys, hardships and the practicalities of living in a sometimes harsh and cruel world.

Families rely upon one another and care for one another when times are hard. They share happiness and sorrow together. They are more attached than just being a community together where independent lives can be lived without affecting the body as a whole.

Biblical Christianity was about being family not just community.

Acts 2:44-47 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Act 4:32-35: And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

As we learn to serve one another and our communities what better way than to be a family. Where forgiveness is needed how much easier to forgive when you see the perpetrator of that deed as part of your family not just as an acquaintance.

When the Apostle Paul was teaching on Spiritual Gifts he used the analogy of being a body [physical] but truly as a body functions in tandem with each part so does a family.

Romans 12:4-5: For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Again in 1 Corinthians 12 we are shown about being different members of one body, or we could say different brothers or sisters of one family.

Remember Families Do:
a] love one another [John 13:34-35]
b] encourage one another [1 Thessalonians 4:18]
c] spur one another on towards love and good deeds [Hebrews 10:24]
d] build one another up [1 Thessalonians 5:11]
e] edify one another [Romans 14:19]
f] admonish one another [Colossians 3:16]
g] instruct one another [Romans 15:14]
h] serve one another [Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10]
i] bear with one another [Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13]
j] forgive one another [Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13]
k] be kind to one another [Ephesians 4:32]
l] be compassionate to one another [Ephesians 4:32, 1 Peter 3:8]
m] be devoted to one another [Romans 12:10]
n] honour one another [Romans 12 :10]
o] live in harmony with one another [Romans 12:16, 1 Peter 3:8]
p] be sympathetic with one another [1 Peter 3:8]
q] be gentle with one another [Ephesians 4:2, 1 Peter 3:8]
r] be patient with one another [Ephesians 4:2]
s] accept one another [Romans 15:7]
t] submit to one another [Ephesians 5:21]
u] clothe yourselves with humility towards one another [Ephesians 4:2, 1 Peter 5:5]
v] teach one another [Colossians 3:16]
w] live at peace with one another [Mark 9:50, Romans 12:18]
x] confess your sins to one another [James 5:16]
y] pray for one another [James 5:16]
z] offer hospitality to one another [1 Peter 4:9]
Ab] greet one another [Romans 16:16, 1 Peter 5:14]
Bb] have fellowship with one another [1 John 1:17]
Cb] agree with one another [1 Corinthians 1:10]
Db] carry one anothers burdens [Galatians 6:2]

Remember families do not:
a] bite or devour one another [Galatians 5:15]
b] provoke or envy one another [Galatians 5:26]
c] hate one another [Titus 3:3]
d] judge one another [Romans 14:13]
e] lie to one another [Colossians 3:9]
f] slander or speak evil about one another [James 4:11]
g] grumble against one another [James 5:9]
h] go to the law against one another [1 Corinthians 6:1-8]

Families can bring to us joy and sorrow, happiness and sadness but nothing changes what families are or what families should be. We persevere and choose to love just because we are family. The Christian Church has lots wrong with it, but we love each expression of it because Jesus has called it His family. So we choose to love! Lets make 2010 a time of forgiveness, a time of reconciliation, a year of family.
Maybe you have realised that you need the power of love restored in your life. maybe you are isolated from your own family, believe me Jesus will help you to put things right. First with God and then with your family.

If you have not invited Jesus into your heart this would be your first step.

Jesus says in John 14:6 'I am the way and the truth and the life, No-one comes to the Father except through Me'

Peter said of Jesus
'You have the words of eternal life' John 6:68

The Lord Jesus is ready to help you as soon as you ask to know Him as Lord. Jesus Christ has paid for your sin, my sin and every ones sin by living a life free from sin and dying in our place so that we might know forgiveness of sin, and freedom eternally from the power of death and fear.

The bible says in Romans 10:9-10 'If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.'

Remember you can only deal with your own sin. Everyone has to answer to God for what they have done, but God is merciful and will forgive them too, when they are ready to come to Him. He will always accept you, and makes you the offer now of real, genuine love and resurrection life.

You need to say sorry to God for having offended Him by your sinful actions, and choose to walk in His ways instead. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins, repent of your sins and tell God you need His help to stop living in a way that pleases you, and tell him you want to live to please Him.

Invite Jesus Christ to come and be Lord of your life. Thank Him that He has bought you back from the road of darkness and destruction by giving His life for you, and releasing you from the burdens of rejection, guilt and shame. Bringing you fully into His wonderful light. Thank Jesus for this, and acknowledge His death and resurrection and ask His Holy Spirit to come into you right now and give you the power to change and you will find real acceptance in Him and He himself will show you the way forward.

Next step is to tell someone you have received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and find a church that really loves Jesus and lives for Him.

It will not be easy but will be the greatest and most joyful decision you have ever made.

If you have made this decision today E.Mail us and we will send you a Gospel of John and some helps to get you started in your new and exciting walk with Jesus.