One Family, Many Members

As a family is one though it has many members, and all the members of the family, though many, are one family, so also Christ. The family is not merely one independent member, but rather, a system of intermingling members that work together to keep the family running. Therefore, a sister should not say to her brother, “Because I am not a son as you I are, I do not belong to the family,” for she does not for this reason belong any less to the family. Also, a grandson should not say to his grandmother, “Because I do not contain the amount of wisdom you have acquired over the years, I do not belong to the family,” for he does not for this reason belong any less to the family. If the whole family had the qualities of only the son, where would the unique qualities of the family’s daughter be, whether she brings social qualities, intellect, or a great musical taste? And if the whole family had the wisdom of the grandmother, how would it be able to see things in brand new ways through the eyes of the young imaginative grandson. God carefully puts together families exactly the way he plans them so that their many members can interact with on another to learn, gain new points of view, and grow stronger as a family together. The brother cannot say to his sister, “I do not need you,” nor can the grandmother say to her grandson, “I do not need you.” Those members of a family that have special needs or are weaker than the others are given extra care because they need it to be a functioning member of the family. Those members of a family who do not need much care to play their part in the family are not given as much of it. However, all members of the family are cared for in one way or another, and, in the end, they all love one another the same amount. If one member of the family suffers, all the other members feel the member’s pain and sorrow. In the same way, if on member of the family is honored or experiences a joyful event, then all of the others share in that members joy. Just as this family works, so does the body of Christ Jesus. We are all the members of His family and interact in these ways.