Being a Christian means you are apart of a family. The family of God.
I want to bring out some definitions of some words starting with family. And then see they apply to our daily walk with other believers.
Family: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head. A group of persons of common ancestry. A people or group of people regarded as deriving from a common stock.
Looking at those definitions from a biblical standpoint let me do this: A group of individuals living under one roof (the kingdom of God) and under one Head (Jesus).
A group of persons with common ancestry (Adam and Eve) and ultimately (Jesus Christ) of which He is still alive and in us.
A group of people regarded as deriving from a common stock. Again Jesus Christ.
Community: a unified body of individuals. Joint ownership or participation.
Hum! A unified body (in Christ Jesus) from individuals.
Joint ownership (in Christ Jesus) of which we participate in His death and resurrection.
Personality: the quality or state of being a person. The complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual. The totality of an individuals behavioral and emotional characteristics. Set of distinctive traits.
We may be of the same body, but have different personality's. As individuals in Christ we still have a complex of characteristics that distinguishes us in the body. IE. gifts etc.
Our behavioral and emotional characteristics continue in our walks as believers. One body, but differing....etc.
True believer: a zealous supporter of a particular cause.
Christianity! The Way! Jesus Christ and Him crucified!
Sanctification: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.
That is pretty much self explanatory.
Now when you put all of these together you get a small complilation of what the body of Christ is made of. I said, small and not all ok?
Yet we as an earthly family may have the same parents (in most cases) and yet are very much different from our siblings. (for those who have siblings) And I am not leaving out the others who don't. So please bear with me as I explain.
We may not look alike and again we don't act the same way.
I for example have 4 children. Three daughters and one son.
Two of my daughters are twins. Yet they both look alike and act alike, yet have two very distinctive personalities.
One is very errr and the other is more passive.
Yet they love each other and when one is gone the other really gets beside themselves without the other.
My oldest daughter is very independant and has social anxiety. She can exert her dislike by crying and such.
My son on the other hand is very laid back and self aware.
My children don't always get along with each other, yet when the dust settles they continue to love each other and move forward.
They have two things in common though. They both came from the same parents. And they each have the traits of each of us.
I have a strong personality along with social anxiety.
My wife is a very quiet passive person.
In time we have grown and are growing closer to each other. All the while our personalities conflict at times.
Yet again in the 20 years we've been together the sanctification if you will has been taking effect as a believing married couple.
The Lord uses each individual trait to make a family who through marriage became one.
So it is in the body of Christ we are individuals with different traits brought together striving for one unity all along having the One who brings us together. Jesus! The Head.
We may not always see eye to eye and may have our times of errr, yet we must be able to come back together in LOVE!
As we still have the same Dad! Our heavenly Father.
So the next time you get together with the fellowship of believers remember this, "We are family all of my brothers, sisters in Christ and me!"
And though we are one we will still have different traits.
Love one another in brotherly affection, putting up with each other knowing that the time is drawing near. (paraphrased).
