You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.... Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ... Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ... Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord.... "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters." (2 Corinthians 6:12,14-15,17-18 NKJV)
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
(1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV)
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'Set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'A man's enemies will be those of his own household.' " (Matthew 10:34-36 NKJV)
We do not choose our family members. And relationships with siblings are unique. With whom else do we share as much of work and play, food and clothes, house and even bed? Who else knows us like a sibling? In whom else does the same heritage, DNA and blood run?
Those born again in Christ’s blood enter a new family. Among the most difficult Scriptures to apply are directions to distinguish between believing brother and sister in the Lord and unbelieving neighbor—who may be a natural relative, and who Christ may make an enemy.
Yet the blood of Christ unites God’s children in common experience and fellowship unknown to an unbeliever. We certainly continue to associate with unbelievers (1 Cor. 5:9-10). But the close communion which makes us part of one another is reserved for family.
Father in heaven, surely one of the greatest agonies of this world is to be separated by Your blood from a member of natural family. Surely one of the greatest joys is the communion of the saints. Thank You for replacing our losses not thirty nor sixty but hundredfold. Thank You for the blood of Your Lamb.
Feedback may be posted to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mailed to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
I thought this was one of your best writings to date. To see you compare yourself with Britney Spears seems far fetched at a glance, but in the long run hits the mark for us all.
ReplyDelete