Family of God
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
Galatians 3:26
God loves everyone but he doesn’t treat everyone the same, he opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, those in his family. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) What does it mean to be in God’s family? How will it change us knowing we are God’s children and he is our perfect loving Father?
Those in God’s family receive God’s grace and forgiveness. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and Christ intercedes for us. We are sinless before the Father and heaven is our home. Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
It is the Holy Spirit that places us in God’s family. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16-17) We are God’s children and we are heirs of God fellow-heirs with Christ, which means we will inherit all God has for us. In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
Everyone in God’s family receives his grace, his forgiveness, his blessings, and he is molding us to the mind of Christ. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29) Our Lord intimately knows everyone in his family and all are predestined to conform to the image of his Son. And as we become more Christ-like we will experience the mind of Christ, and we are filled with love, peace, joy and all the characteristics of Christ. Our faith will continually grow stronger giving us more security with a confidence in Christ that we can overcome the world. And the longer we walk with the Lord, guided by the Holy Spirit, the more Christ-like we become, which means our life gets more fulfilling with time.
God’s family is the church. Christ is the head of the church which is considered to be the bride of Christ. The wedding ceremony will occur when Christ returns and brings his family home. And he is the head of the body, the church; (Colossians 1:18) Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7) God’s people, the church, are the bride of Christ, and heaven is our home.
Today remind yourself that you are in God’s family and receiving his grace and love. You are his special possession and he wants to help you through every detail of your life. Today invite God into your life and seek his divine guidance through the Spirit and through his Word. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Prayer: Today Lord, help me to remember that I am in your divine family, and help me to see everything, including myself, through your eyes. Fill my heart with your love and help me to walk this day with joy and with confidence that comes from you. Help me to be humble and secure in the identity you gave me when you adopted me into your family. In Jesus name, Amen