Philippians 4:1 (ESV) “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
Galatians 3:26 (ESV) “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
Paul addresses the church at Philippi with deep affection: “my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown.” He calls them brethren six times in this short letter. This is no throw-away word. It carries profound meaning, especially in difficult times.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We share a family bond that is stronger and more enduring than any earthly tie. Even when families are separated by distance or circumstance, the bond remains—and often grows stronger.
We are spiritually united to one another and to God Himself. This unity does not come from common interests, hobbies, or backgrounds. It comes through our common salvation. We are adopted as children into the same family: “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
Our commonality has nothing to do with race, ethnicity, social status, gender, wealth, nationality, or language. We are the family of God—united in our bond to Christ, together in our relationship of salvation, strong in our faith and devotion to our Savior.
And it doesn’t matter what diversity of circumstances and backgrounds we’ve come from. There’s no room in the family of God for an attitude that exalts natural, superficial distinctions over and against the supernatural, spiritual unity that belongs to every brother and sister in Christ.
We don’t say, “Oh, I prefer not to hang out with those people because they don’t understand my cultural heritage.” Or “…because they’re so much younger or older than me.” Or “…because they don’t have young children and I’m at the stage of life where I need people who are sharing my experiences.”
The Gospel supersedes all of that! The things which we now have in common with one another as we share in Christ far outweigh any differences between us.
Today, stand fast in the Lord with your brothers and sisters. Look for ways to strengthen the family bond that Christ has given us. Reach across differences with love and humility. Remember that we are not merely a collection of individuals—we are the family of God, adopted together into His household through faith in Christ Jesus.
Let the supernatural unity we share in the Gospel shape how we think, speak, and relate to one another. The bond we have in Christ is deeper than blood and stronger than any circumstance.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ Jesus we are all sons and daughters of God through faith. Thank You for the family bond You have given us in Your church. Forgive us when we allow superficial differences to divide what You have supernaturally united. Help us to stand fast in the Lord together, to love one another deeply, and to treasure the unity we share in Christ far above every earthly distinction. May our common salvation bind us closer than any other tie. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
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