It isn’t easy learning to live together.
Being a family means you get to see all sides of the ones you live with; the good, the bad and the ugly. You get to experience the highs and joy of special moments and you must also share the tough moments that feel like the bottom of a pit. This is family.
For those married or in a significant relationship, you will know it’s not always rose petals and angels singing! And if you have kids, you will well know the challenge that a public tantrum brings!
God has called us to live as ZION Family. This is one of our key values.
The Apostle Paul writes a letter to the church in Rome and includes some insightful guidance on how to live together as the family of God.
“… You, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this:
You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
(Romans 11: 17-18)
Paul uses the analogy of a branch being grafted into root-stock to help us to see that we have been included in God’s family by the work of God, and not our own efforts at being acceptable. So, too, must we remember that others are chosen by God. I think the simple version of what Paul is saying could be paraphrased as “try and see things from God’s perspective!” As always, we need God to help us with this 😉
My prayer for our church family is that we would live together well in love, being gracious in all things and at all times, always seeking the greater good for others.
I’ll leave the closing words to our Great Apostle;
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.”
(Romans 12: 16)
Blessings,
Phil