Come Be A Part Of God’s Amazing Family

My wife and I were recently presented with an opportunity to purchase a house and piece of property that’s been in my wife’s family for almost 150 years. After prayer and careful consideration, we decided to move from the city and our great little neighborhood on Magnolia Street out to the country.

While we are excited about the prospect of breathing new life into this old homestead, the harsh reality is moving isn’t for the faint of heart. I underestimated how much stuff we had accumulated over 14 years of marriage, and I didn’t enjoy how heavy some of the pieces were.

Thankfully, God blessed us with family, a friendly neighbor, and a loving church family willing to sacrifice their time and backs to help us move. Had it not been for their generosity, moving would have been even more unbearable.

Our move and the help we received to make it happen reminds me that God desires and designed us to live in community with other people. God doesn’t want us to be “Lone Rangers;” He wants us to develop a deep and meaningful relationship with the Lord and other people.

Scripture tells us that “two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed… Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT).

There are many places to find a sense of community, but there’s no place quite like being a part of God’s family. Sure, we’re not without our dysfunction, and we have plenty of faults to go around. But what family doesn’t? And while we, the individuals who make up God’s family, may not be perfect in an earthly sense, thankfully, Jesus is more than able to overcome our sinfulness and shortcomings.

Therefore, I encourage those of you who are a part of God’s family to model the community Jesus taught about during His life. It was Jesus who taught that He was present when two or three gather in His name. It was Jesus who made the ethic of love non-negotiable in all relationships by telling us to “love our enemies” and to “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-48).

Jesus showed us the value and influence of sharing a meal with other people, even if that meant going against the wishes of the religious elites by eating with sinners and outcasts. Jesus also emphasized people over tasks (this point brings conviction to my life). In short, everything about the life and ministry of Jesus fostered a sense of community.

So, if you’re trying to be a “Lone Ranger,” allow me to encourage you to lean into the community of God’s family. There is amazing encouragement and love to be found. And if you’re not a part of God’s family, please allow me to share that Jesus loves you and died so you could live in a right relationship with God. He’s waiting with open arms to receive all who believe into this beautiful family. So don’t wait; join us.