Family - There's Power in the Blood!

This weekend we have two family get-togethers; one with my mother’s side of the family, and the next day with my father’s side of the family.  A very busy weekend for sure!

Family is quite unique to say the least.  Some may have a “family resemblance”; yet we are all uniquely made with our own quirky personalities, habits, verbiage, gait, interests and of course we all have our very own set of problems and circumstances.  Yet through it all-we have one major thing in common – we are all related by blood! Nothing can ever change that fact.  Some may have their disagreements – issues with another, and unfortunately in some families (thankfully not in any of our families), may even disown a family member!  But no matter what that person may have done, they are still family by blood – that cannot change no matter what one may do. 

The same is true in the family of God.  When we trust the Lord as our Savior, we become family through the blood of Christ.  “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…” (Ephesians 1:7) and “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”(1 John 1:7).  In so doing we become one body – one family through Christ.  “We are all one body, we have one Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.  There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over all and in us all and living through us all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6).  And in so doing we are commanded – not suggested – to: “clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  You must make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love.  Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.  Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.  Use his words to teach and counsel each other.  Sing psalms and hums and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:12-17.)

I am reminded of an old, yet powerful hymn, “There is Power in the Blood”.  It speaks about the glorious power of the blood of Jesus.  Yet it also brings to my mind the power of the blood that is coursing through our veins as family members.  I think about the powerful love, joy and forgiveness of loved ones gone on before us that have helped build and mold our family into what it is today. 

So as I prepare to visit with my precious yet uniquely created family this weekend, I pray that we all will look beyond our difference – our faults – our quirkiness – and see each other through the eyes of Christ – our precious loving Savior who looked beyond our own faults and forgave us of our sins.  If we come together with the mind of Christ, it will truly be a glorious weekend through fun, food and fellowship.