Jesus has already completely redefined the meaning of family when He called God Most High, “Father”. A father is a protector. A father is a provider. A father is a teacher. A father is a parent who loves you with a jealous agape love. A father is many things, and God is the epitome of all of them. To know God as father is to know God on a multitude of levels at the same time, for you must first know Him as God. God our creator. God our judge and king. God our redeemer and restorer. Our Father’s complexity is far beyond our ability to grasp, so it seems appropriate that our relationship with Him is also complex.
Sadly, today many Christians treat each other as mere acquaintances and not part of God’s family. They are just other people to whom is extended a measure of trust on account of common identification as God’s children. But that is not what Jesus or our Father intend. “Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.””
In calling His disciples not only brothers – but also sister and mother – Jesus is implying our relationship with each other should also be complex. Obviously not as complex as the relationship we have with God. But all the same, Jesus means for us to have a much richer relationship with each other than we might otherwise assume.
God intends that we should know each other as “mother”. As someone who loves the other unconditionally. As someone who would forgo their own need so that the other might be blessed. As someone who always sees the best in the other, and always acts to better them. As someone who is not afraid to discipline the other, unashamed of the family relationship and does not even consider giving up. A mother is someone you can trust implicitly to be there for you, and for whom you are wholly committed to be there for them. A mother is full of compassion (Isaiah 49:15) and comfort (Isaiah 66:13). Do we have that kind of relationship with other believers?
God intends that we should know each other as “sister”. A sister is someone you protect and care for. Someone you live life with. Someone to whom you can share your deepest secrets and trust that they will be safe for life. Someone who is there to tend to you when you are sick, and who you can rely on to stick with you through the messiness. Do we have that kind of relationship with other believers?
God intends that we should know each other as “brother”. A brother is someone who will help you, no matter what the struggle is. Someone who will labour with you toward your goals. Someone you can lean on and who will carry you if need be. A brother is a true loyal patriot, a friend of the highest order. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Do we have that kind of relationship with other believers?
Many (if not most) of us grew up without such depth and meaning in our family relationships, so we find it hard to be in such a rich relationship in God’s family. Nevertheless, so it will come to be, and so we should attempt.
So what are you going to do about the state of the church? How will you become a better member and contribute to the health of God’s family in this place?
Thabiti M. Anyabwile
APPLICATION: Intentionality
We are blessed to be a blessing, and we are loved that we might love also.