God of Family

The Father is the One that every family gets its name from--every family in heaven and on earth . (Ephesians 3:14-15)

What makes a family a family?

The Bible answers this question with a sort of pun--the Greek word for family is based on the Greek word for "father." It's kind of like some languages call their country a "fatherland" or "motherland." Greek calls a family a "father-group."

Some patriarchal Greeks and Romans would use this same pun to say: "See, the family is all about its father! That's what unites us! That's why the father is the most important member of the family! That's why sharing DNA matters so much! That's why blood is thicker than water!"

But the Biblical writers knew that we can be family without sharing the same earthly father. We might be stepbrothers or half-sisters, adopted or fostered, from single-parent homes or from blended families. What makes us family is the love that we share. That love has its ultimate source, not in our blood ties, but in the spiritual ties that come from the Heavenly Father.

What makes us family is the love that we share.

God, the Creator of all, is our loving Dad, welcoming us all to the table, setting down ground rules to make sure we all get along.

It is God's Spirit of love that makes a family a family. As you think about what is good or bad about your earthly family, turn your attention to the Father of Love.

Every Sunday at 10 a.m. we celebrate God's resurrection power at work in those who follow Jesus. Come hang out with us as the family of God.

--Jonathan