- 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)

Having siblings is a strange thing. As kids, we fought over broken toys. We fought over bathroom time. We fought over personal space in the car. We even fought over who was mom and dad's favorite. And yet, as we've grown up, we're closer than ever before. Why?

The answer to that is one word: love. As we grow up, we learn to forgive our siblings. We don't hold grudges against our younger siblings breaking our favorite toy. As the past becomes more distant, all we remember is the good times we had as a family. That's how we can love our family—even though they're far from perfect.

God loves us so much that He wants us in His family. If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have a whole new family in your fellow believers. And according to God, you need to love your new brothers and sisters in Christ just like you would love your natural siblings.

Like your real family, your Christian family may do things that hurt you. Actually, your Christian family will do things that hurt you. We're a family of sinners—otherwise we wouldn't need God's saving grace. Love doesn't mean ignoring the hurt and pretending it's not there. And it also doesn't mean getting into a knock-down-drag-out fight in the middle of the front lawn for everybody to see. If your parents wouldn't approve of that, do you think God will?

Love simply means treating others like you'd want to be treated. Love means putting other's needs before your own. And love means caring about your imperfect family...even when they drive you crazy.

Think About It...