Day 15 - Formed for God's family

You were formed for God's family.

Because God is love, He treasures relationships. The Trinity is God's relationship to Himself. God has always existed in loving relationship to Himself, so He has never been lonely.

He didn't need a family - He desired one, so He devised a plan to create us, bring us into His family, and share with us all He has - when we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father and we become His children.

The family of God includes all believers in the past, the present and the future. The only way to get into God's family is by being born again into His family.


YOUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR PHYSICAL FAMILY BECAUSE IT WILL LAST FOREVER.
(Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God; but temporary, fragile, often broken and always ending in death)

Your spiritual family is a much stronger union, a more permanent bond than blood relationships.

BENEFITS of being in God's family~

The moment you are spiritually born into God's family you are given some awesome birthday gifts:
+ family name
+ family likeness
+ family privileges
+ family intimate access
and
+ THE FAMILY INHERITANCE~

As children of God we share in the family fortune.

Here on earth we are given the riches of His grace, kindness, patience, glory, wisdom, power and mercy.

In eternity we will inherit even much more!:
+ we will get to be with God forever
+ we will be completely changed like Christ
+ we will be freed from all pain, death and suffering
+ we will be rewared and reassigned positions of service
+ we will get to share in Christ's glory

You are far richer than you realise. Your eternal inheritance is priceless, pure, permanent and protected. Earthly retirement is a short-sighted goal; you should be living in light of eternity.

BAPTISM: identifying with God's family~

Sadly many of us have never publicly identified ourselves as members of our spiritual family (as Jesus commanded) by being baptised.

Jesus' Great Commission gives prominence to baptism ("... make disciples of all the nations, baptising everyone...". - it is not optional, to be delayed or postponed.
It publicly announces to the world that you are not ashamed to be a part of God's family. It symbolises your purpose to become a participant in the fellowship of God's eternal family.

Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. CAUTION: it doesn't make you a member of God's family (only faith in Christ can do that!); it is an act of initiation, not to be put off until you are spiritually mature. (I didn't know this to be so?)

THE ONLY BIBLICAL CONDITION REQUIRED TO BE BAPTISED IS THIS, THAT YOU BELIEVE!

LIFE'S greatest privilege~

Being included in God's family is the highest honour and the greatest privilege you will ever receive. Let that amazing truth sink in...
You are a part of God's family, and because Jesus makes you holy, God is proud of you!

JESUS said, "... Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother..."

Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved or insecure, remember to whom you belong!

ps - I was first spiritually baptised in 1985 ( on the day of my sister's 21st birthday); but after reading this, and having strayed often, I reckon I'm due again...

Much love ~SB