The Family of God (May 2,2023)

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (1 John 1:12)

Sadly, one of the most significant changes in the American way of life over the last half-century has been the demise of the traditional family unit. I fondly remember the closeness of our family growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s, regularly going to church together, sitting down at the table to partake of family meals, watching TV (wholesome family shows like “Ozzie and Harriet” and “Father Knows Best”), and enjoying simple outings and other bonding activities as a family. Those days have passed; family life is changing! Two-parent households are on the decline in the U.S. as divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation are rising. Families are smaller today, due to the growth of single-parent households and the drop in the number of children per household. 

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26)

The traditional family unit that many of us once knew may be rapidly changing, but thankfully, as Christians, we have been born-again spiritually into the most wonderful family of all—the eternal family of God. If you aren’t already a member, God wants to welcome you into His family by the amazing grace that He offers all repentant sinners through faith in His beloved Son Jesus Christ. Once a person realizes his or her need for a Savior and accepts Christ’s payment in full for their sins on the Cross, the new believer is adopted by our loving heavenly Father as a son or daughter. Children of God, we become joint heirs with Jesus to the glorious riches of heaven, and receive the greatest gift imaginable—eternal life! Forever, we are part of the family of God!

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2)