Daily Archive

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

“Blood is thicker than water.”

That statement is often used to describe the bond of family. Brothers and sisters may fight and bicker among themselves, but be wary of stepping between them or attacking one of them because you may find a united front against a common enemy…and that enemy will be you!

My father was the second oldest of three children. He was a rather small man, especially compared to his taller, older brother. Their personalities were as distant as their stature. My uncle was tall, athletic and quiet. As a result he’d often be picked on by other kids. He would never fight back though, never stand-up for himself.

Dad, on the other hand, was a bit of a firecracker and apparently felt is was his duty to be ‘uncles’ body guard. On more than one occasion he got in trouble for fighting. His fighting was most often a result of his decision to protect his brother!

The bond of ‘family’ is taking on a different face today as more than ½ of our children are living in families in which the parental bond is divided between mothers, fathers, stepparents and other caregivers who for whatever the reason have taken on the parental role. As a result, the concept of being adopted as children into God’s family may lose some of its impact.

God’s family isn’t like our earthly family. In God’s family we are chosen by him to be his children because he desires to be our Father. There is nothing we did or can do to change his love for us. There will be no time in the future when he tells us he won’t be our father anymore. He will never take advantage of his strength and position to make us do things we don’t want to do. He will never, ever abuse us or punish us in anger.
Sometimes we confuse God’s discipline for punishment when, in reality we are suffering natural consequences of our actions. That doesn’t mean God’s love for us is any less. His decision to love you as his own child came long before you were even born. His desire for you to be his child began at creation as he looked into the future and saw what this new world he’d created would become.

It’s a sad fact that the earthly, human form of family is in disarray and under attack by those who seek to destroy it. But God’s family is secure. You will always be his child. With that promise comes a challenge for us to live as brothers and sisters. An admonition to live in unity under the father and not based on religious tradition or dogma. You can’t change your physical DNA. Nothing you can do will change your spiritual DNA as well. You are and always will be a child of God because of his great love for you.

PRAYER: Father, there are so many voices here on earth defaming the concept of father and family. It’s hard sometimes to see you as father and to grasp the concept of family as you ordained it. I thank you that your family is permanent, healthy and alive. I praise you for choosing me to be a part of it. Help us, as your family, to live in the love and unity you planned for us. Amen.