Believers Have Family Everywhere

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 NKJV

As I ran the streets of Hinesville, Georgia Saturday morning, I began counting my many blessings. “Lord, thank You for allowing me to be here to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. Thank you for my dear husband who joyfully made the long drive from Missouri to make it happen. Thank You for the sunshine and the sound of the birds singing. Thank You mostly, though, for how you’ve changed my life Lord. You have been so good to me.” As I traveled along a little further, I had to thank Him once again for being so good to me. All the twists and turns I had taken at the prompting of the Holy Spirit led me to the Westside Baptist Church of Hinesville, and answered my prayer to find a place to worship. “Thank You Lord for leading me here,” I said out loud. “I’m excited to be worshiping with my sweet Larry and our brothers and sisters in Christ tomorrow.” 

And, you know, I had to smile as my husband and I walked in the doors of the church on Sunday. By the way our brothers and sisters greeted us and hugged us, an outsider would have assumed that we had been members of that church for years. But that’s what sets the body of Christ apart. We follow the commandment Jesus gave us to “love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” You see, God demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Which means that the affection we are to “demonstrate” towards fellow believers should be a love so deep and instant that it considers fellow followers as family members, rather than merely friends. This is the self-sacrificial devotion that has the power to inspire the lost to seek this otherworldly love for themselves. 

So, knowing that the love of Christ has no limits, seek to love your fellow believers in the same way my friend. And remember that, although you might not go to the same church as another believer, you are a part of the church as a whole and, therefore, part of the whole family of Christ no matter where you go. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for commanding us to love fellow believers in a way that shows the world that we are your disciples and gives them a family wherever they might travel. Help us to show the brotherly affection to one another as You have commanded us to Lord that the lost would be compelled to seek being a member of the family of Jesus Christ. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!