MEMBERS OF GOD'S FAMILY-WHA A PRIVILEGE!

The children's song says it all: "God is my Father, and Jesus is my brother, and the blessed Holy Spirit is my guide. The devil is no relation, for I'm a new creation, I'm a member of the family of God!" Yes, according to the Scriptures, the church, the body of Christ (Col. 1:18), is the spiritual family of God. Although the word "family" is used only one time, in Ephesians 3:15, of the KJV New Testament, numerous other passages clearly convey the idea that faithful Christians have been adopted into the family of God (Rms. 8:15, Gal. 4:5). Of course, membership in God's family is predicated upon our obeying God's terms of entrance into His family, prior to our securing the benefits of sonship. Jesus said, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Mt. 12:50).

Once one has been added to God's family, the church, after being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38-47), it is then exhilarating to contemplate God's family are promised an equal share in the inheritance of God. Paul recorded, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." (Rms. 8:16-17).

Being a member of God's family is not without responsibility. As brethren in God's family we must strive for an atmosphere of love, family unity, and concern for one another's feelings, needs, and well-being. We should take up for one another and help one another in times of need. When one member is happy we all should rejoice with him. When one is member is sad, we all ought to share in her grief as we extend our compassion and support to help in her time of need (Rms. 12:15).

Just like in our physical families, good communication is absolutely essential to healthy family life in the spiritual realm as well.  We live in a world of hurting people, who need someone to care about them. Many of our brethren are hurting too. They need our care, our concern, our love, and perhaps most of all our forgiveness. The Apostle Paul admonished, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:12-14). Truly, if we care about the well-being of fellow members of our spiritual family, then positive words of tenderness, compassion, love, forgiveness, encouragement, approval, respect, commendation, and exhortation will be frequently heard within our fellowship (Eph. 4:31-32).

Nevertheless, do not forget that negative words of reproof and rebuke, lovingly given, are also needed at times in order to maintain spiritual health in the family of God (II Tim. 4:2). Indeed, sometimes the most loving and considerate thing we can do for our brethren is to meekly point out their behavior which is inconsistent with their commitment to Christ, thus helping to save their souls from the fires of hell (Gal. 6:1-2, Jude 22-23, Jms. 5:19-20). If we really care for one another as brethren, then we will care enough to correct and discipline, unpleasant though it is, lest any should be eternally lost from the family of God.

Brethren, every member of the family is important. I need you, and you need me. We all need each other. When the family assembles for worship and Bible study, if you are not here, then the family circle is broken. Like a missing member of our physical family at a holiday get-together or family reunion, it's just not the same without you. So, please don't miss the family reunion on the "holy day," as we gather at the table of the Lord. In fact, here at the start of a new year, can we not all make a commitment to be here for every service this year, unless ill, out-of-town, or hindered in some unavoidable and legitimate way? I beg you to make that commitment and stick with it for a whole year, for I really believe God will bless not only you, but the whole family here at North Jefferson if you do. May God help us all to make 2006 a banner year in faithfulness and spiritual growth for the family of God here at North Jefferson, and for the cause of Christ in Mt. Pleasant and throughout the world.
We should be thankful for the wonderful privileges of being members of the family of God! The Bible records the many rights, privileges, and benefits that attend the child of God. For instance, membership in God's family makes us one with Christ. The Hebrew writer records, "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:11).
                                                                                                                    David McCain