Too many of God’s children do not realize how important the family of God is and the role it should play in their lives.  Yes, we all know, intellectually, how important being a part of God’s family is, but we seem to forget how we should treat each other, or even how we should view one another in Christ.

If I were to ask you what is more important to you, your biological family or your spiritual family, what would your honest answer be?  Too many of us prioritize our physical families higher than our spiritual ones.  Jesus did not make that mistake.  Listen to what He said about family.

Matthew 12:46-50 (NKJV)
⁴⁶  While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. ⁴⁷  Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” ⁴⁸  But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹  And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! ⁵⁰  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Our real brothers and sisters are those who do the will of God.  Sometimes that might include those of our biological families, and sometimes not, but this should remind us of how important our fellow members of the family of God are.

Why is this so important?  There are several reasons, but one of the most important is that we cannot be right with God if we are wrong with our brethren.  Hear Jesus again.

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
²³  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

We cannot even worship God acceptably if we are wrong with our brethren in Christ.  Many Christians think that they can sin against brethren during the week and sing praises to God on Sunday as if our relationships with each other do not matter.  Jesus teaches us that they matter a lot.

Paul reminded us of how closely we are related to each other in Christ when he wrote, “…so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5).”   Like the human body, every member of the body of Christ is connected.  Spiritually speaking, we are a part of each other.

Being uniquely connected in Christ, we should have a natural love and care for one another.  Paul said, “If one member suffers, all suffer together…” (1 Corinthians 12:26).  Why?  Because we are one in Christ.

Yes, we should take our relationships with each other seriously in the family of God.  We should make cultivating this relationship and protecting it from the devil’s attempts to divide us, a high priority in our lives.  If we do not love each other, heaven will not be a place we enjoy since we will be together there forever and ever.  Then, again, if we don’t love each other, we probably will not have to worry about it.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.