Louise Gevers

“You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”Colossians 3:12

The concept of family and marriage started with God and it’s from Him that every family gets its name. (Ephesians 3:15) Even the marriage covenant between a man and his wife is a copy of the relationship between Christ and the Church and is profoundly symbolic of this union. As the Bride, the Church puts on quality clothes that are beautiful and appropriate for her marriage to Christ – clothes of concern, thoughtfulness, meekness, tenderness and serenity – intentionally, as would the bride adorning herself on her wedding day. We think that our good qualities are within us, so we don’t consider putting them on as we do clothes, but so are the sinful traits that we constantly battle against. We don’t want those to emerge first and win the conflict, so we need to be intentional.

Jesus is “the head of his body, the church…” and “the source of the body’s life.” (Colossians 1:18) As members of His body, God’s family couldn’t be more alive! Jesus died for us andnothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:35-39) C.S. Lewis said, “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.” How much more does this apply to those who are drawn together through Jesus who is the Truth, who unites His followers as brothers and sisters in God’s family.

In any Christian gathering in the world we are of one heart and mind with the other Believers there, connected to God and to one another by His Spirit. This is a foretaste of heaven where one day we will be united with so many others “that no one (can) count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb”, Revelation 7:9 foreigners on earth, yet one in heaven. To be in God’s family is awe-inspiring: it’s a privilege and out of this world!

When troubles arise, Christ is the firm foundation and God’s family will hold together in the Truth. Without that connection to Jesus and to each other, relations collapse; but united with Him against the enemy gives strength in weakness, joy through pain and impact to the Gospel message, making possible the impossible.

Are we connected, Family?

Prayer: Dearest Father, as I look at these qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, I know that, all too often, they’re not the clothes that I wear even when I intend to. I confess that I really need You to help me because I want to succeed in doing what Jesus has called me to do. Please help me, in Your mercy, in Jesus’ Name. Amen