God’s Family (Daily Encouragement)
“Jerusalem—built as a city that is firmly bound together. To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord…” – Psalm 122:3-4
This week we are looking at why and what happens when we worship and are a part of a church family. Eugene Peterson wrote of how he prays that the Holy Spirit would create in people a determination to worship God in a christian community.
When you are a part of a family, you have different traditions to gather together. You may have Sunday dinner, some families have family reunions periodically, you gather for holidays, plus the regular overlap and routines of everyday life. One of my favorite traditions is every year we go to St. Louis and one night we have “Cousins Christmas”. We have a great meal, time together, games and gift exchange. While these may seem like normal activities families do, they have tremendous effect on who we are and how we get through life. Like our families, being a part of and engaged with our church family brings us security and shapes us. When we gather each week, it’s like a little family reunion where we enjoy, encourage and embody the love of Christ to one another.
God’s Family Brings Security – “Firmly bound together” means the place at unity in itself. There is safety in being with others and being united to others. In a church family, we are never alone. It is a means God uses to protect us, provide for us, pray for us, encourage us, lift us up and get us through.
God’s Family Shapes Us – “The tribes of the Lord” were the 12 tribes who were scattered through Israel and would gather together in Jerusalem. When we are alone, we do what we want, how we want, when we want – we don’t have to change. When we are with others who think different, act different, love different things – it expands us and also forces us to love, become more forgiving, extend grace, humble ourselves, etc. Being a part of a church family shapes us to be more like Christ.
What are the ways being a part of a church family have shaped you to become more like Christ and brought security? How has/can God use you to help bring security and shape others?