The Family I’ve Always wanted Part 3: God’s Interdependent Family

"You hold me in your heart."

"I hold you in my heart" (The Apostle Paul, Philippians 1:7)

Introduction

It originally was not my intention to have The Family I've I Always Wanted blog be a series, but it has turned into one. I could not help but be reminded of how God's family is suppose to relate to God and to each other when reading Philippians, especially chapter 1:3-11. In this opening chapter, one should see an interdependent family and church. God's family is to depend on one another, as they depend on the One who began a good work in them and will complete it on the day of Jesus Christ. So the point of this blog is to show that God's family is to be interdependent, as they depend on God. This blog will first look at the opening chapter of Philippians to show God's family can only begin to be interdependent as they rely on Jesus Christ. Second, this blog will look at Philippians to show that God's interdependent family should allow God's love and compassion to not only be an example but also should allow it to flow out of them toward one another. Lastly, this blog will look at two contemporary examples that show glimpses that God's family is doing this today.

The Source of Our Interdependence

First, God's family can only begin to be interdependent as they rely on Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul understood the Church in Philippi's partnership and interdependence to him in light of the work Christ began in them and will complete in them. The Apostle affirms, "the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Paul loved this church and prayed for them with great joy. He saw them not merely as recipients of his ministry, but as partners in the gospel. However, he understood this to be true because it was Christ who ultimately began the work in them and not himself. This of course, is true of Paul as well. Paul understood his love only in light of "the compassion of Christ Jesus" (v. 8). The church in Philippi and Paul were to be more than merely recipients of God's work and love. They were to be more.

God's Interdependent Family

Second, God's interdependent family should allow God's love and compassion to not only be an example but also they should allow it to flow out of them toward one another. In Philippians 1:7, there is a difference in translations. One translation translates the verse "You hold me in your heart" (NRSV), while others translate it "I hold you in my heart" (ESV, NASB). The first refers to the Philippians holding Paul in their hearts and the other refers to Paul holding them in his heart. The purpose of this blog is not to get into a technical debate about translations issues. However, either could be true here. There is little doubt of the mutual love and affection they both had for each other. This love they both had for each other was from Christ. Paul declares, "For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus" (v. 8). This love Paul had for the Philippians lead him to constantly pray for them (v. 4; 9-11). The church today can at times fall short in this area but there are also glimpses of God's interdependent family even today.

Two Examples

There are today glimpses of God's interdependent family. In my last blog Living within a Story I brought up a prayer meeting that I attended to pray for a dear family, who were and still are going through some real hardships. This without is a great example that displays interdependence and partnership. People there came together and should dependence on each other, as they looked to the One they were completely dependent on. Interdependence and partnership does not merely mean partnering in the benefits of God's grace, but it includes real hardships. Being God's interdependent family means loving one another with the compassion of Christ Jesus and thus displaying to the world the love of Christ.

It is hard not to think of Haiti, when thinking of an example of global interdependence. It is truly amazing to see people respond to the tragedy in Haiti. It show that God's love and compassion, shines through, even outside of his family. However, God's family is also partnering in the relief efforts. Churches like the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICFG) have been in Haiti for several years and are currently active in seeing relief and help come to Haiti (See link http://tiny.cc/DoXDK). They along with other churches are good global examples of God's interdependent family that hold one another in each others hearts,

Conclusion

In a world with joy, blessing, as well as , pain and hardships, we need a family that looks to and depends on the compassion of Christ and thus can be dependent on each other. Christ love is not only a model for us but it is our source for showing love and compassion to each other and the world. We can do this personally through praying for each other and being present in each other lives. We can do this globally as we look for ways to contribute toward tragedies like the one in Haiti. Let's be God's interdependent family.

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Thanks for reading,

Marcelino