God’s Big Family Joined Together: a devotion on family

From an Africa Study Bible application note:

African weddings are normally huge family affairs. When a couple decides to marry, both families join in negotiating the marriage agreement. Both families have much at stake in the union and in what the bride and groom bring to their union. The wedding itself will cost both families a considerable amount of money. It will require many months of preparation and planning. However, after the wedding, the two families will always be connected to each other.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul described the church as God’s new family (Ephesians 2:19). Jews and Gentiles were brought together and made into one new family. Before Christ, Jews and Gentiles were like warring tribes. They were hostile towards each other. Now, through Christ, they were brought together in peace. 

As Christians, we are now family members with people from different cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities. What a joy to know that regardless of our ethnicity, nationality, gender, or financial status, we are not second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God! When our sins are forgiven, we are new people born into a new family. Our past associations no longer control us. We live for the glory of God and to bless others, especially our new brothers and sisters in Christ. When we join God’s family, we give up hostility and hatred. We put our unity with fellow believers above any cultural, national, and ethnic differences. Because of this, let us take the Good News of salvation to every tribe and nation so they, too, can join God’s family.

Today:

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart for prejudice against people of a different ethnicity, nationality, gender, or financial status. Ask God for forgiveness. Begin to strengthen relationships with Christians from that group, who are now your family in Christ.