Family Unity is Important

In some cultures "extended family" is still very much a thing. And if you are part of an extended family, albeit that it ain't perfect, albeit that there are disagreements from time to time, I hope you realise how incredibly blessed you are. For many though, extended family has become a thing of the past. Urbanisation and globalisation have created a mobility that's resulted in families simply living further apart. There's an increasing focus on the nuclear family, both with financial independence and paradoxically cost of living pressures. Changing gender roles, generational differences, the rise of childcare alternatives, digital communications, have all had their role to play. And so, differences turn into disagreements, disagreements into fractured families and before you know it, we're talking long-term alienation. Now, I'm no marriage and family expert, but I'm pretty sure that that was never the plan. Colossians 3:13-14 Don't be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. Families were always God's idea. And whilst you'll find a lot of dysfunctional families in the Bible – everything from arguments to adultery, incest and murder, in fact – His heart is for your family to be united. That begins with love, it manifests itself in forgiveness. Whatever's going on in your extended family, that's what God is calling you to today. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.