It is truly a blessing to be part of a loving family. In like fashion, it is a great blessing to have dear friends. Sadly, not everyone knows what it feels like to be part of such things. All too often, we take our family and friends for granted. If you are so blessed as to have good friends, thank your heavenly Father. If you are so blessed to have a loving earthly family, thank your heavenly Father. If you are so blessed as to have a loving spiritual family (meaning you are a member of the body for which Jesus died—the church), thank your heavenly Father. In fact, the sacrifice that brought about the New Testament church is one of the ways by which we know we are deeply loved by God (Acts 20:20).
In the church, God has provided everything a family needs:
- Leadership. “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (1 Peter 5:1-4).
- Companionship and strength. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
- Love “(1 John 3:1, 11). Don’t you want to be a part of this? Don’t you want all that are dear to you to be a part of this?