The Family of God: I’m So Glad

Hello Friends,

How are you doing? The other day, I was thinking, how lucky we are to be part of the family of God! Even when we mess up, God still allows us to belong to His family. Even when we don’t listen to our parents or teachers, God still allows us to belong to His family. And even when we argue with Him, God still allows us to belong to His family. How wonderful is that? It’s very wonderful!! A hymn written by Gloria and William Gaither asserts, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…”

But what does it mean to be a part of the family of God? You are probably part of a family. Maybe your family has one parent, two parents, step parents, a brother(s), sister(s), grandparents(s), aunt(s), uncle(s), cousin(s), and maybe a few pets. But what does it mean to be in a family with all these people? Well for starters, it means that you are loved, that you have people looking after you and who care about you, that you have someone in your corner cheering you on…and a lot more can be said. So, how do I explain this to you?

For starters, hear these words from the Apostle Paul: “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you” (Galatians 3:26-29, NLT).

Do any of you know what this is? This is a membership card to the Public Library. I was about your age when I got my first library card and I was still using it a few years ago until I got a new one. I mean, it still has my name printed on it from all those years ago! (I can barely read my name…I’m glad my handwriting has improved since then!) Do you have a library card? If you don’t already have one, you should get one. One of the great things about a library card is that it is available to everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl. It doesn’t matter if your skin is red, brown, yellow, black, or white. It doesn’t matter where you were born or who your parents are. Everyone is welcome to get a library card. Here in Oblong, we are blessed to have a Library downtown that is located near the schools. And, I know for a fact that it would love to have you go and visit sometime. They have a great assortment of books and literature to choose from.

Another great thing about the library is that once you become a member, you are entitled to all the benefits and services that the library provides. You can check out books and videos–even music on a CD. You can go to the library and read magazines and newspapers. You can read books that are older than you, younger than you, and are the same age as you; and read books that are filled with pictures or just filled with words. You can even use the computer. I sometimes go to the library to read, do some work, and to embrace and enjoy the quiet atmosphere. It is really a wonderful place. (Where I grew up, I would ride my bike to the library and on the way home I would get some ice-cream from the local Dairy Queen!)

And one more thing about the library: do you know how much it costs to join the library? Nothing! Membership is free! As long as the library is open, you can go and check out a book, use the computer, read the newspaper or magazine, and get lost in the archives and not have to pay anything. Isn’t that just wonderful!

You know, that is a pretty good picture of what it is like to be a member of the family of God. The Bible tells us that when we trust in Jesus and are united with him in baptism, we all become the children of God. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is. When we become a part of the family of God, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We don’t even have to pay to belong to this family. Jesus, who lives within us, acts as our membership card: he has paid for all of us to belong to his family. The Bible also tells us that when you belong to the family through Christ Jesus, you are entitled to all the benefits of being a child of God. All of the promises that God has made in His Word belong to you! Isn’t that great? Oh, by the way, do you know how much it costs to become a part of the family of God? Nothing! It is a gift of God!

You see this library card–a free gift to anyone–is our mark of membership into something that can change our life. Jesus died for all of us–every single person–so that we can become members of his family. Our membership card for belong to this family is simply telling everyone that “Jesus loves me and I love Jesus!” I don’t know about you, but I am so glad to be a part of a family that loves me, supports me, is kind to me, cares about me, motivates me, and welcomes me no matter who I may be.

I’m so glad to be a part of the family of God! Aren’t you?

Let us pray: Dear God, we are thankful that we can become your children through faith in Jesus Christ. We are thankful that it doesn’t matter whether we are girl or boy, black or white, or where we were born. We are thankful that in Christ we all become one. We all become part of the family of God because we are precious in His sight. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

P.S. Make sure to visit your local public library!!!

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