The Family Of God

During the last two weeks, Rhonda and I have been the recipients of an untold number of acts of kindness. While I was in surgery, several women waited with Rhonda and spent the time together in prayer, feeding our spiritual need for support and comfort. We have received many meals that have fed and nourished our physical bodies. Someone looked after our dog for a few days. Another person helped with providing a car ride. There have been countless emails and texts of encouragement, support and prayer that have refreshed us in a difficult time. We feel incredibly blessed.

This coming weekend is Pentecost, the traditional marking of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Often we focus on what the Spirit brings to us personally. We could not live out the Christian life without the role and empowerment of the Spirit in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit works in us to shape our spiritual nature. The same Spirit is also at work to shape us corporately as the church.

The phrase “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 13:14) speaks to our common participation in the life of the Spirit. We are united together, in fellowship and family, through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. Apart from the Spirit, there would be no church. “For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

This week, I am grateful for the family of God. It is his Spirit who puts us together in relationship to serve and care for one another. It is the community of the redeemed and we have a calling to be the body of Christ to one another and to the world around us. Being part of God’s family is just one benefit we have in the Spirit, but what a great benefit it is.