FAMILY PROBLEMS

Everyone who loves him who has begotten loves also him who is born of God (1John 5: 1) 

As an adult, I often heard my pastor read the Ten Commandments and the Lord's commandment that we love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. I realized that I did not fully carry out the commands, but I took them seriously. 

When I was 8 years old, I was sad when my neighbor's 6 year old son who lived in a non-Christian family died. However, I also feel guilty because I wouldn't be as sad for him as if it were one of my brothers who died. Until now, even though my brothers and I are married, we still care for each other. 

God loves it when we value family ties like this, but He also wants us to love everyone in our spiritual family because of being born again. That's the family Jesus meant when He responded to the message that His mother and brothers wanted to talk to Him. He looked at the crowd before Him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother." 

(Mark 3: 34,35). 

Loving the lost is indeed our duty, but loving those born into God's family, whatever their faults, should come naturally. After all, this is a family matter --HVL 

Love is action, love is prayer,
For the aching soul, the despairing heart;
Love reconciles, gives happiness,
Love feels your suffering. --Anon.

WE SHOW LOVE TO GOD
WHEN WE LOVE HIS FAMILY

*) Take from Daily Meditation