JANUARY 23 - WE ARE FAMILY
“They (the early Christians) were like family to each other.” (Acts 2:42 CEV)
“Be devoted to each other like a loving family.” (Romans 12:10)
Devotional Thought: What do you think of when you hear the word “fellowship”? A lot of people think that’s when some people get together to converse with one another or have fun together. But the word for “fellowship” in the Bible in Greek is the word koinonia. At its basic meaning it means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. That’s the level that God wants us to eventually grow to in our relationships with other Christians. He wants us to be as committed to other believers in the family of God as much as we are to Jesus Christ. A boy was asked what the word “fellowship” means? He responded, “I guess that it means two fellows in a ship.” That’s not a bad definition. When two people are in a boat together they go up and down and all around together. And that’s what Christian fellowship is all about. It’s about sharing our lives with other Christians in the up and down times of life, staying committed to the Lord and to one another.
Most of us probably know the verse John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” But most people don’t know 1 John 3:16, another important verse. 1 John 3:16 says, “We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us and so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.”
This is the deepest level of fellowship, sacrificing for each other. It’s the kind of love that Jesus Christ had for us. He died for us. So how do we experience this level of fellowship, this level of commitment, of treating other believers like family? By standing with other believers when they go through their darkest moment or crisis. This level – treating other believers like family – means when everybody else walks out of their life we walk in. We’re there and we’re aware and we care. Because we’re committed to treating other Christians like family members that we love.
This is what life is all about! Loving God and loving each other. One day we’re going to figure out that what matters in life is not accomplishments but relationships. And when we do we will be on the way to becoming who the Lord has called us to be, living like He’s called us to live, and doing what He’s called us to do.
Prayer Focus: Lord, help me love other Christians like I love my closest family members, because they are my spiritual family that I will spend eternity in Heaven with. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Follow-Up Activity: Identify some Christians friends that you’re really close to, and reach out to them in some way to communicate to them how grateful you are that they are your spiritual family members, and that you’re committed to loving them and praying for them and serving the Lord alongside them.
