Family

Family: a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household

'Family' is a single word, with many different meanings. People have many ways of defining a family and what being a part of a family means to them, but what every family has in common is that the people who call it a family are making clear that those people are important in some way to the person calling them his family.

As you look over the landscape of our culture, it’s clear to see that an ultra-broad and all inclusive definition of family hasn’t proven to be healthy for most folks. As Christians, we are people that are trying to submit to God’s will in order to live an abundant life filled with a peace that comes only by a confident outlook on life based on God’s promise. That doesn’t mean that our families, our lives, or any part of the world we touch will become instantly perfect just because God’s in it. Instead, we begin to have a clearer picture of the reason for family, a reason for God’s promises, and therefore a purpose in life.

Because of the vast number of broken and patched together families, it can be difficult to talk about what God had in mind with family, but it’s important to do see what He says about it. Perhaps, similar to a special ops military unit with a secret mission, the family works with a common and urgent goal of survival and protection all wrapped up in the overall theme of purpose.

Moses explains to the fathers in the exodus group in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 that it’s their responsibility to teach, explain, encourage obedience to God to the family. He says, “[you must] repeat these [commands] to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up…” all the time.

But it wasn’t just a set of rules that God wanted them to share, but the essence of those “laws” which helped to train people how to think about the events of life: conflict, love, stress, fear, excitement, etc. Ultimately, God wanted this group of people to help them think godly, and by doing that they would find peace and purpose in life that would protect them from Satan. (1 Peter 5:8)

Parents have a common goal of seeing their kids succeed. Although the definition of success may be different from parent to parent, success is no doubt the goal of most parents for their kids. But as Jesus said, “to gain the whole world and lose your soul, is of no real gain.” Family has the purpose of keeping those included on target. The spiritual family is no different.

You are important to this family of believers. All of us need to constantly be reminded and remind others of that fact. Every hurt, joy, stress, and success is of concern to this family. Just as 2 John 5 says, “I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.” I encourage each of you to understand and emulate the difference a godly, spiritual family can make in a world that in so many ways has become confused on what family really is.