Verse: Hebrews 2:10-13
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
Thoughts
What an incredible gift that no matter what we've done in our past, no matter what we struggle with in our present, no matter how far we have fallen—Jesus is "not ashamed" to call us his brothers and sisters.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are "the same family" with Jesus and each other. This is one of the profound truths of becoming a follower of Jesus. We not only submit our lives to his Lordship, we join the family of believers.
God loves to re-family people. He loves to give spiritual fathers to those who, due to death or neglect or disinterest, do not have an earthly father. And the same goes for spiritual mothers, brothers, sisters, and kids. We can sometimes miss this truth in our hyper individualistic western society. But the call of God to the church is to be a family.
When you go to church and look around at the people, those aren't just people sitting in the same building. They are people who are supposed to have your back, and whose back you are supposed to have as well. There is a kinship, a commitment, and a dedication to each other that should exist in the church. I know throughout my life I have seen this to be true over and over, as fellow believers have mourned with me, rejoiced with me, prayed for me, been generous with me, and worked together for the Kingdom with me.
If you are reading this today and you feel a lack in your life of true community, maybe God is nudging you to lean into church. Be consistent in attending, but more than that—work to make friends! Invite people out to lunch! Join a small group! Volunteer on teams to meet people!
Just like anything in life, we often only get out of it what we are willing to put into it. The gift of family is wating for us. But it is US who have to create that reality. Let's put our hearts and minds and bodies into this. Let's make the church the most welcoming and healing family on the planet.
Prayer
Show me how to do my part to be the family of God!