God’s Family
Even though it is marred, we still carry the image and likeness of God (James 3:9). In some ways we still ‘resemble’ God. Our desires for love, mercy, grace and justice for instance, mirror God’s character and desires, and show this image hasn’t completely disappeared. Humanity is now like a ruined castle, dilapidated and utterly overgrown. But if you stand far enough away, you can still see the outline of what once was ornate and extraordinary.
No man is an island. Life is not meant to be lived alone. We were never created to be independent of every other living person. Those who try to are often motivated by deep hurts that they’re running away from.
God lives in ‘family.’ God is a Triune being – one God in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Within this single Godhead there is perfect fellowship, perfect sharing and perfect caring.
God still puts the solitary in families (Ps.68:6). Almost all the New Testament pictures of God’s people are corporate. We are called God’s family (Eph.2:19), the bride of Christ (Eph.5:23), a field of crops (1 Cor.3:9), a temple (Eph.2:21), a holy priesthood (1 Pet.2:25), God’s house (Heb.3:6), spiritual Israel (Gal.6:16), God’s people (Rev.21:3), God’s flock (1 Pet.5:2), the Master’s vineyard (Jn.15:1-8), Christ’s body (1 Cor.12).
A Christian is never alone. We are always part of a family, both God’s worldwide family and the local expression of family, the local church family.
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