Daily Devo - Monday, March 10, 2008

Then Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. - Matthew 19:27-30

The average church in America is full of people who can't seem to get along. They argue, bicker, back-stab, and discourage. At least, this is the popular conception of most churches. Rightly or wrongly, this is what the pagan world around us believes, and sadly it is what most disenchanted Christians assume.

Jesus' idea of church is radically different. Our fellow Christians are first and foremost family . Paul uses the term brothers over 65x in his letters. We are the family of God, and the joint sons and daughters of God. Jesus is saying the above words to Peter and the other apostles who gave up earthly families to follow Jesus. Perhaps some of them were disinherited from their family systems. Perhaps wives walked out on them. Perhaps parents shunned them. If they lost family, the closest earthly relationships in the world, what reward would Christ give them?

The answer: he will give them a new family. Our physical families only last for a lifetime, but the family of God lasts for all eternity. Sharing bloodlines is an important bond, but not nearly as important as the bond between those who share the blood of Christ. When we gather together we are not simply co-disciples, we are to be intimate, faithful, loving brothers and sisters in the faith. This is why the authors of the New Testament rank the sins of grumbling and sowing discord right next to murder and adultery, because murmuring and grumbling destroys family!

Jesus also wants us to look at each other with kingdom-eyes. Yes, a fellow believer is a brother. But, he is not merely a brother. He is also a divinely bestowed reward. My fellow believers are the reward Christ has given me for my commitment to him. When we look at each other, we are to say, 'thank you Jesus for giving me Tom as a brother in Christ. Thank you Lord for the presence of Sue in my life.' Family irritates. They bother. They get under our skin at times. But we are to remain profoundly thankful for their presence. They were brought into your life for a purpose---to reward you for service to the king! Treat them like the reward they are.