The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15, NIV
You could see the shock on their faces.
My friend, Carrie, had brought her sixth graders to my music class. Before she left to return to her room, she hesitated and, with her arm around me, said, “You know, boys and girls, Mrs. Wilson and I are sisters.”
Now this was clearly a lot for these children to swallow, since I am white and Carrie is black.
They looked at me and asked, “Really?”
With a nod and a wide grin on my face, I affirmed her statement. A long pause followed as the children digested our statements. Then quickly, before she left, Carrie quipped with a wide grin of her own and said to me, “Same Father!”
We laugh at such fun with kids, but the truth of God’s Word teaches that all who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ are brothers and sisters in Him. We carry the same family resemblance as our Father. And those around us should see the special “family ties” we have with each other when we are together.
How often do we allow denominational differences, lifestyle, and political preferences to separate us as Christians and keep us from living out what God intended as reflections of His love?
Carrie and I genuinely complemented each other when we were together. She was the extrovert and friend to all. I was the introvert, thoughtful and logical. Together, we were just a piece of the family that God has called together to complete His image in the world. We prayed together, encouraged one another, and, hopefully, gave those who knew our family connection a healthy picture of Christ’s work in our lives.
If you need a Christian sister or brother in your school setting, ask God to show you someone with whom you can pray and make a difference together for Him.
Dear Lord, please show me today who is a true brother or sister in the Lord. I need someone to pray with me and to encourage me, and I need to do this for someone. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Copyright Shirley Wilson.
Shirley is a retired Christian Educators member and a former board member.
