Spiritual Family

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. - John 1:12-13

Jesus redefined family, claiming that those who connected with him became God’s children, making them into siblings of each other. Jesus was drawing on one of the most deeply felt connections of the ancient world - the family. For Jesus to claim that our primary identity was not our biological families - that was radical, even revolutionary - and threatened to tear a whole in the fabric of society.

When you think of the closeness and commitment of a biological family, how does that compare to your experience of your spiritual family? Does your lack of caring experience with spiritual family make you think that Jesus overpromised? Have you experienced any re-parenting in your spiritual family? How did you biological family prepare you to be part of a spiritual family?