I once shared my daughter’s experience of salvation. I was the one who led her to Christ. It is one experience she will never forget in a hurry. She kept the date fresh on her mind and always talked about it whenever opportunity presents itself. Few days after she got born again, the Holy Spirit whispered to me; “She is now your sister.”
Friend, there is the reality of kingdom relationships we must be aware of. I once told couples in our Church; “Don’t only see your spouse as your wife or husband, also see him or her as your brother or sister in the Lord. This will redefine and revolutionize your relationship with him or her.” Don’t be too natural to forget kingdom realities (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).
When you see your spouse as your brother or sister in the Lord, you would not want to hurt him or her. You would realise that both of you are responsible and accountable to the same heavenly Father (Malachi 2:14-16, 1 Peter 3:7-8). You would start seeing your spouse beyond natural but see the loving kingdom relationship with a fellow believer. It would change the atmosphere of your home for good (Ephesians 5:21).
Paul told Timothy to see young ladies as sisters and relate with them with all purity (1 Timothy 5:2). What a wisdom for young men to keep themselves sexually pure! When you see that young lady in the choir as your sister in the Lord, you will not contemplate violating her sexually. When you see your employee or employer as a brother or sister in the Lord (if they are born again) you won’t cheat him or her (Philemon 1:16).
When Pastors see their Church members as fellow brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the same Father, it would help them to tone down their ego and relate healthily with the flock. Pastoring is a holy entrustment given us by our Father God to provide leadership for our siblings in the same family (1 Peter 5:1-4). We must never forget this truth.
One of the best helps you can offer people who are in physical or biological relationship with you is to get them born again. The blood of the Covenant in Christ is thicker than the water of the womb (Ephesians 2:12-13). The only way you can rejoice over a departed loved one is to know that he or she has gone ahead of you and that you would soon meet in your Heavenly Father’s house. It’s time to review your relationships in the light of the kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria