Part of God's Family
"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 2:11 NIV)
On this Mother's Day, I want to give special tribute to my mom. When I was growing up, she, along with my pastor dad, were major influences on me, not just as parents, but as teachers and role models for how to be a Christian. One of the things my mom especially taught me was what it meant to be part of God's family. Her example of piety greatly influenced mine, especially in terms of treating people as God would treat them, and serving others. My mom also encouraged me to treat all people with love and respect, and to regard all people as being worthy of love and care. Additionally, she also taught me the value of having a close, personal relationship with God, one that has lasted for me even up to the present day. During a particularly challenging and uncertain time in my life, my mom would text me Bible verses that had come to her in prayer - and the verses almost always spoke exactly to the situation I was facing, and the kind of encouragement I needed. Since, by the grace of God, my mom is still living, she continues to influence me even today.
Today, on this Mother's Day, we give thanks for all those who have shown us mothering care, as gifts from God. We also remember that God has made us part of families, and part of an even larger family - His family. In Baptism, He adopts us as His sons and daughters, and gives us a new purpose: to live in relationship with Him in love, giving the same love He gives us to others. Also in Baptism, He unites us to Jesus' death and resurrection, meaning that who we once were dies in Baptism, and rises again to be a new person - a new person who is being changed every day to become more like God, reflecting His love and care for all people. We are therefore to regard all people who are likewise baptized as our brothers and sisters, and regard this family connection as transcending all barriers and boundaries. We further are to regard all people, by virtue of their being created in the image of God, as being our brothers and sisters, and bring God's love and care to them all equally.
In doing so, we follow the example of God, who has made us part of His family, even as He has made us part of our earthly families. He binds us more tightly together as one family; indeed, in this pandemic one of the things He has shown us is, as we have been able to see the various ways how our brothers and sisters worship, is that we share many things in common: our Baptism, our faith in Him, our message, our mission. Let us live as His family, living in love for Him and each other, and bring our family love to all people, to help all people experience God's love.
Dear God, thank you that you have made me part of your family. Help me to live in relationship with all people as my family, showing all the same love you show me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 2:11 NIV)
On this Mother's Day, I want to give special tribute to my mom. When I was growing up, she, along with my pastor dad, were major influences on me, not just as parents, but as teachers and role models for how to be a Christian. One of the things my mom especially taught me was what it meant to be part of God's family. Her example of piety greatly influenced mine, especially in terms of treating people as God would treat them, and serving others. My mom also encouraged me to treat all people with love and respect, and to regard all people as being worthy of love and care. Additionally, she also taught me the value of having a close, personal relationship with God, one that has lasted for me even up to the present day. During a particularly challenging and uncertain time in my life, my mom would text me Bible verses that had come to her in prayer - and the verses almost always spoke exactly to the situation I was facing, and the kind of encouragement I needed. Since, by the grace of God, my mom is still living, she continues to influence me even today.
Today, on this Mother's Day, we give thanks for all those who have shown us mothering care, as gifts from God. We also remember that God has made us part of families, and part of an even larger family - His family. In Baptism, He adopts us as His sons and daughters, and gives us a new purpose: to live in relationship with Him in love, giving the same love He gives us to others. Also in Baptism, He unites us to Jesus' death and resurrection, meaning that who we once were dies in Baptism, and rises again to be a new person - a new person who is being changed every day to become more like God, reflecting His love and care for all people. We are therefore to regard all people who are likewise baptized as our brothers and sisters, and regard this family connection as transcending all barriers and boundaries. We further are to regard all people, by virtue of their being created in the image of God, as being our brothers and sisters, and bring God's love and care to them all equally.
In doing so, we follow the example of God, who has made us part of His family, even as He has made us part of our earthly families. He binds us more tightly together as one family; indeed, in this pandemic one of the things He has shown us is, as we have been able to see the various ways how our brothers and sisters worship, is that we share many things in common: our Baptism, our faith in Him, our message, our mission. Let us live as His family, living in love for Him and each other, and bring our family love to all people, to help all people experience God's love.
Dear God, thank you that you have made me part of your family. Help me to live in relationship with all people as my family, showing all the same love you show me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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