“THE CHURCH: A SPIRITUAL FAMILY I BELONG TO”

Monday, September 19, 2022

Written by Rev. Mark Muckler

SCRIPTURE

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

If we have learned anything at all during this pandemic, I hope that we understand this. “The Church is not a building. The Church is not an institution. The Church is not a place we go to, and it is not an event that we attend. Rather, the Church is a spiritual family that I belong to.” (Rick Warren: Purpose Driven Life).

This reality has been a blessing to realize, and a challenge to live into, especially as an itinerant pastor who moves every couple of years. For me, my official church membership, at least within our denomination, is not within the local church, but within the annual conference. So I’ve had to be intentional about strengthening my “spiritual family” so-to-speak.

My family and I have met countless wonderful people of faith who have encouraged us to continue to live faithful and upright lives. Our spiritual family has prayed over us, lifted us up, served alongside us, laughed and cried with us, been present with us, mentored us, and provided all sorts of support, and the list goes on.

I’m often challenged to be intentional about making spiritual friendships with like-minded individuals who are sold out for Jesus. Such relationships may or may not be within the current church I’m serving, but that’s ok. I am reminded that our spiritual family is one that knows no boundaries geographically, and that it is one of eternal significance. And I give God thanks for the tremendous blessing of Christ’s Church, our spiritual family.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

How about you? As much as we encourage visitors of our churches to make the commitment to join the Church, a “spiritual family” of faith, are we also making such a commitment ourselves? Who are those persons within your close-knit spiritual family? Lord knows that in every church setting we serve, there are persons we may or may not connect with on a deeply personal and spiritual level. And let’s be honest, there are some people in the church where it is simply a challenge to be your honest, raw self with the same people you are serving who won’t judge you.

It begs the question, so who are those persons you would identify as your spiritual family of faith? Are you making intentional efforts to strengthen your spiritual family? How often are you sharing in holy conversation with one another to strengthen and lift each other up? We ALL need that.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Thank You for the humbled privilege to serve You in the places You have sent me. Reveal to me, O Lord, those persons whom I can be open, and honest with, persons whom I know won’t judge me, but will pray for me with great intention. Thank You for those persons You have already placed in my life who I know I can lean on for encouragement and support. Continue to strengthen the network of my own spiritual family, and may I be a blessing to others in the same way. I humbly pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. – AMEN .

APPLICATION / RESOURCE

Spend some time writing down a list of those persons whom you look up to, those persons whom you would consider to be members of your own spiritual family of faith. Offer thanks and praise to God for each of them, and consider reaching out and offering personal words of thanks for them.