I Want It AllSample

Family

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).

When “family” is done right children are nurtured, cared for, laughed with, encouraged, supported, taught, fed, disciplined, challenged, and protected. They are loved and they are accepted. Loved: beyond weaknesses, through immaturity and tantrums, in spite of imperfections, with consequences, in word and deed. Accepted: given a place to belong – to fit in, given a place to serve, a place to grow, brought into a community.

Yes. We struggle to do this well in a fallen world, but God doesn’t.

God does family right.

When we place our faith in Jesus, and in our hearts truly believe the Gospel, (which is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came from heaven to earth, lived a perfect life, was crucified, dead and buried to atone for the sins of mankind, then rose again, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven) then the Bible says that we are adopted into God’s family. God takes us in as His own. And God takes family seriously.

In my house we have a motto: Family first. I do realize that the family is not a safe word for everybody, but it should be. The family of God is a place of safety. God shows us His love when He calls us His children. I am a child of God. I am also a mom. I love my kids so much it hurts. I would stand in front of a speeding train to keep them safe. Yet, God’s love dwarfs my mama's love. By calling me His child, He makes an intimate and powerful declaration that I belong to Him.

I am His. He is mine.

You are His. He is yours.

Forever.

God’s love is safe.

Knowing this helps me a lot. It makes me feel secure. Earthly love can be fickle, frail, temporary, and disappointing. Spouses abandon their marriages and families. Parents turn their back on children. Children turn their back on family. Friendships dissolve and change from season to season, city to city. But God’s love never leaves. His love is steadfast. It remains. It is unbreakable. Never-ending. Unlike the love I experience with people, the Lord’s love will never abandon me. His love is safe and His love endures.