December 27, 2010
Truth Connections
Devotions for Parents on the Go
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Community, Part 1: The Foundation for Community
Background Passages: Ephesians 4:1-32
Today's Focal Passage

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope at your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6


Family Reflections

The day is nearly done. The kids are bathed and look so sweet in their jammies. You feel such a sense of well-being as you watch them play quietly and peacefully together. "Wow, I'm good," you tell yourself. "They really reflect well on us as parents." Then Precious #1 yanks a toy from Precious #2 who screams and grabs a handful of #1's hair. Soon everybody is fussing and crying. Maybe your children really do reflect their parents. Ouch.


Do you wonder what God the Father sees as He looks on His children? Does He see us playing together peacefully, putting effort into sharing, loving, forgiving, and simply accepting one another?  Does He cringe to see Precious #1 say something snide to Precious #2 who stews about it and then stabs #1 in the back? Or, perhaps even more painful to a parent, does He see His children ignore and neglect one another, refusing to even take part in the family?

God created the church so His family could be together. And, a fact even more important but rarely realized, He created the church to reflect who He is. Paul used the word "one" seven times to emphasize the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is Three, but God is One. The church is to reflect that unity.

Children reflect their parents. When Christians make the effort to come together and love each other in community, we reflect our Father's nature of one-ness. When Christians don't go to church, or go to church but don't get along or get involved, the world still thinks it's seeing a reflection of God. Ouch.

Our relationship with others -spouse, children, church family - is a reflection of our Father. The question is - what are we reflecting?

Precious Father, forgive me for reflecting you poorly by not being united with Your children. Help me be united with my family and with a community of faith so I can reflect You well in this world. I pray this in the name of Your Son and the power of Your Holy Spirit, Amen.
Amy Summers
Digging Deeper: Background on Ephesians

Paul probably wrote the letter to the Ephesians in the early 60's of the first century A.D., while he was a prisoner in Rome awaiting trial before the emperor. Unlike most of Paul's letters that were written to address specific problems in churches, Ephesians presents God's eternal purpose: to provide redemption through Christ for all people. In Christ, God created a new race-"one new man" (2:15): Christians. People who place faith in Christ become members of His body, the church. Christ is the head of the church. He designed the church to demonstrate in microcosm the unity God wants for all creation. Each local church is the expression of Christ's body in its particular area. Thus every local church is to be unified in spreading the good news of salvation God has provided in Christ.