February 2, 2022

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3

Today my kids are home from school because it is a snow day. Like most kids, they were excited about it. With five kids, however, the excitement quickly wanes as they come to the realization that they are cooped up in the house together all day. This can quickly lead to grouchy, short-tempered siblings. But no matter how much they get on each other’s nerves, the truth is, they’re stuck with each other. The interesting thing is, these are also the same people who defend each other, cry with each other, and laugh together. Though they don’t realize it right now, the hard days with each other can create an unbreakable bond as they grow together.

One sad development in the American church is the tendency for people to jump around from church to church whenever times get hard. Don’t get me wrong, God leads us to different church families at different times. But this move should always be the leading of God, not just preference or choosing what’s easiest. If God has not told you it’s time to move, then it’s time to stick it out. It’s not easy. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves. Sometimes we are grouchy or short-tempered. But that is what a family does. It is those hard times that create a bond. It is the dedication to one another through difficulties that creates a group of brothers and sisters that can defend one another, cry together, and find great joy long into the future.

Dear Father in heaven, bind us together in love; a love that stays committed through all the difficult times and experiences incredible joy and peace even during the hard times. Make us the true family of God.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon