Father, this Is Your day. May we come together this morning ready to listen to what You have for us today. May I clearly proclaim what I have been given. Draw us together in harmony in Your Spirit. Amen.
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a
Yesterday, we had the privilege and pleasure of attending a family wedding. We traveled with immediate family to celebrate with extended family. And even though this family is pretty extended (in this case it was the granddaughter of my mother-in-law’s cousin) we are embraced as family and have been blessed to partake in graduation parties, and weddings, and baby showers of several of them.
So does this extendedness make us any less family? Not a bit. They have been a part of our lives; we have been a part of their lives. Distance may separate some of us but it makes no difference. No matter how thin the bloodline connection may be we are still family.
Another great connection we have with them is that many of us are a part of an even more extended family. We are fellow believers – brothers and sisters – in the body of Christ. Just because I don’t intimately know members of either family does not negate the fact that we are family. There are people who may live in my community whom I have never had the privilege of meeting – but they are still family. There are people who live on the other side of the world whom I will never meet on this side of eternity – but they are still family.
And in reality, a bloodline joins us all together! The blood of Christ covers the sins of us all! We have been brought into the family of God because Christ provided a way when there was no other way. His sacrifice enabled us –not our works or efforts – He alone has empowered us to be a part of the greatest family of all…and oh, what a reunion there is going to be someday!
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a
Aug 5th, 2018, Sun, 7:43 am
