“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” - Gal 6:10 (NIV).

The family is certainly the most important institution responsible not just for our upbringing but well being. Jesus was raised in a family headed by a carpenter, Joseph, and a stay home mother, Mary. She was with him as he was crucified. “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25).

But aside from his biological family Jesus had also a spiritual family of the brethren. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and the disciples (John 20), for this was his other most important family. Before Jesus had told “the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:27).

God has given us a biological family which we must treasure, as we see here his mother and Aunt standing with him as he was crucified. However, one of the privileges of being a believer is that we have also a spiritual family of the brethren. In the early church, “all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had” (Acts 2:44). After the Apostle Peter was released from jail, “he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying” (Acts 12:2).

The spiritual family as we see here was praying for one of its members who had just been arrested. It is a privilege we have for this family. In the early church we do notice also that the believers looked after one another, concerned with their common welfare.

As we live in an individualistic and materially driven society we often tend to loose focus of this and ignore that as believers we have this rich family from God, where we depend on each other. A clear characteristic of any family is care. In fact, the Lord is telling us, “that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (I Cor 12:25-26). A true manifestation of God’s family.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for my biological family but also that family of brethren you have given me because of faith in Jesus, and I pray that we care for one another as you have urged us, in Jesus’s name I pray.