A Family Who Loves You

God has given us a family to help us get through this life, and we include friends in our meaning of family here. A lot of the help we give one another comes in the form of encouragement. The apostle Paul said that we must pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Romans 14:19). He spoke those words in the context which condemns brothers and sisters in Christ who fuss and fight over things like whether or not to eat meat or celebrate a holiday. The problem with this kind of disputing is that the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). As citizens of the kingdom of God, we are commanded to pursue the things which make for peace and we are commanded to pursue the things which build each other up. In Ephesians 4:29 Paul said that we should only speak words that are good for the building up of one another. That means that God wants you to be encouraged. He did not just leave you out here with no net (no one to help).

I do not have to give you a list of all the ways people suffer today. You are every bit as much a part of this world as I am and you know this as well as I do, perhaps better. Still, it won’t hurt us to be reminded of something. God sees the mother whose heart aches because of her children’s sin. He knows about the wife whose husband is abusive. He is touched by the loving wife or husband who cares for an invalid spouse. God is fully aware of the faithful brother or sister who seems to be fighting the good fight all alone in a congregation of the unfaithful. He sits beside the man whose wife has left him. And His tears fall at the feet of the family of a dear, departed loved one. He heard the psalmist say, “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help” (Psalm 71:12). And He hears you when you cry that same prayer.

One of the ways God answers that prayer is to provide you with a family who loves you and cares for you. That family is the church, the household of God, the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15). No matter how dark your days are; no matter how gloomy and dreary your Monday seems, there is Someone Who sees you and loves you and has given you people around you who love you, even if you cannot see them. By the way, the reason you cannot see them is usually because you are not looking. Look around at those who love you; hear the wholesome (encouraging) words being spoken to you. Know that God loves and so do I.

Donnie Bates