Tag: Family of God

Devotionals

Responsibility in the family

Loring Schultz

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” Matthew 18:7 NLT

Photo by Claudia Raya on Unsplash

The Christian church is a family, a local family within the universal church family. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, His church, and we who belong to Him by faith are not only members of the church but are part of the family of God. Being part of a family comes with responsibility. We are to look out for the well-being of each other by praying for each other, helping  those in need, supporting, and encouraging one another, and most of all not lead anyone into sin disgracing the name of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus said, “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin.” Those affiliated with this broken and fallen world will indeed tempt people to sin. Jesus says it is inevitable; it is their nature. But those in the family of God have a new nature. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2Cor.5:17 nlt) Jesus warns us in Matthew 18:7-9, that even though temptations will come, woe to those in the family of God for the sorrow that will come upon them if His children are the tempters. Graphic illustrations are used by our Lord in verse 8 and 9 to convey the seriousness of leading someone into sin directly or indirectly. We are able to easily lead someone astray by our actions as we are observed by others in the family. All of us have a responsibility to each other to live godly lives.

The Booth Brothers, one of Southern Gospels most recognized modern-day groups, recorded the song “Welcome to the family” which embraces the thought of the church as a family, the family of God. The bridge and third stanza are as follows.

“When I count my blessings it’s easy to see
My brothers and sisters that mean so much to me

I think about the many times they’ve kept me in their prayers
And the countless ways they’ve always shown me that they care
And I know they’ll still walk with me no matter what’s ahead
Yes so much more than just their words, their lives have always said.”

Well-lived godly lives is our ‘responsibility in the family.’

Devotionals

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree

Loring Schultz

Read: Colossians 1:6-10 NLT – This same Good News that came to you is – Bible Gateway

“Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.” 1 John 2:29 NLT

Photo by Drahomír Hugo Posteby-Mach on Unsplash

Children often inherit some of the same traits as their parents. The saying, ‘the apple doesn’t fall from the tree’ states it perfectly. Children’s behavior is modeled after what is observed during those young impressionable years and is carried through into adulthood. This is a good thing that makes a parent proud as their children take on their characteristics in life. But it can turn disastrous if a child turns into a bad apple through the influence of the family tree

Physical traits and behavior are passed down to children from the parents in the family. Spiritual traits and behavior are passed down to everyone through their spiritual family tree. The apostle John writes, “Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.” (1Jn.2:29 nlt) Christians with Christ as our savior are part of the family of God. Our family tree is the triune God passing down His characteristics to us. Our lives should bear the fruit of the family we belong to.

For those who do not know the Lord Jesus as savior, their family is not the family of God. Jesus said, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does.” (Jn.8:44 nlt) This sounds harsh, but Jesus always tells it like it is. Jesus also said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Mt.12:30 nlt) The fruit falling from the devil’s tree are those who oppose Christianity, Jesus as the only way to God. (Jn.14:6)

Not every apple that falls from the family tree of God is perfect. We have spots and maybe a worm or two inside, but we are not rotten but saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Bad apples don’t need to stay bad. The tree of life is available to all who accept Christ as savior. You won’t be a perfect apple, but you’ll be a good apple from the family tree of God.