A Real Family

Webster defines "real" as 1) of or relating to fixed, permanent, or immovable things (like land) and 2) not artificial, fraudulent, illusory or apparent. Real love defines a real family. Genetics are important, but not ultimate. I am not just saying that because I have no biological children. I say it because it is true. In Christ, we have a family that transcends genetic, ethnic, geographic, cultural and all other bounds.

Paul states, "For you did not receive the spirit of slaver to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Rom 8:15-17).

This Spirit of adoption brands our heart with the love of God. The love of God in our hearts brings us into a deeper love of his other children. This reality if evident in John's words, "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death" (1 John 3:14).

Our love for Christ and obedience to his Word may drive us from our biological families, but it will never calls us to part ways from our real family. I am not saying that biological families are not real, only that they are not eternal, not permanent. There are many believers in the world today, and who have gone on before us, who have had to forsake or who have been forsaken by their families. Yet, not one of God's children will ever be forsaken by God.

Earthly families should be patterned on the heavenly family. The glue that bonds the heavenly family together is not a mixture of guilt, or manipulation, or familial loyalty, or sense of duty. Love bonds the heavenly family together. It is a love that looks remedies imperfection by sacrifice. "Love covers a multitude of sins." We should esteem others better than ourselves, because that is what Jesus did. He willingly took the place and punishment of sinful people and gave up his life for them. In his act of self-sacrifice he extended forgiveness to those who receive it and demonstrated the kind of love we must have.