Ephesians 2: 11-22
‘So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of the family of God’. (V.19, Good News Bible)
I remember the wonderful Bible stories we were told while growing up. It was always some account of God doing the extra ordinary just to show Israel, the people he loved how much he loved them. I remember thinking how lucky they were, but never understanding its connection to me.
That God loved his Chosen people Israel is not in doubt. The Bible has numerous instances of God expressing this. He watched over them jealously. He blessed them and made them strong. When they became headstrong and rebellious, He punished them like any loving Father would. Yet, He quickly forgave and restored when they repented. He fought their battles and made their enemies His own. In Zephaniah 3:17 God gives a beautiful picture of being so delighted with His people Israel that He sings joyfully over them!
What a blessed privilege then, to know that we have been welcome into this wonderful relationship. Not as visitors or foreigners with no rights, but as fully fledged members of the family of God, by the work of Jesus on the cross. Because He came and died for us, we have been grafted into God’s family. God loves us like He loved his special people; actually we are now also His special people. He watches jealously over us, blesses us and delights in us.
It’s easy to glaze over this but when we take time to dwell on what this actually means, we’d be full of gratitude to God!! We are members of His family. And we have privileges! We have instant access to the Father, the God of the entire Universe at any time. And here’s the best part, He loves us much more than we could ever love Him!
Thank you Lord for making us members of your family!
image courtesy: www.sermon4kids.com/family_of_god.htm