A Season of Harvest Day 16: My Spiritual Family

But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the Law. God sent Him that He might redeem those who were slaves to the Law, that we might receive our adoption as sons and daughters. Because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to cry out, “Abba! Daddy!” Now you are no longer a slave, but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir. Galatians 4: 4-7

As Christians, we have a bigger family than the earthly one that God birthed us into. Whether that earthly family lives up to God’s design or not, our spiritual family with God as our Father will never fail us.

What does that spiritual family of God look like?

First, we are no longer bound to the ultimate fail of trying to live up to the Law. In God’s accounting, the only way to be with Him on our own dime is to have lived perfectly (like Jesus). Even though we know that we aren’t perfect, the devil tells us that if we keep trying to be better, that effort will be counted. Or, the world tells us that as long as our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, that will count. It’s only fair, after all. Or, our yoga teacher might say that it’s not about doing at all. She might say that we are spirit and we have god in us and as long as we respect that, we will be good. But none of that is true! Jesus came into this world as a man, lived that perfect life for us and died on the cross to redeem our freedom, as a gift.

Next, besides our eternal salvation, we get to be part of God’s spiritual family! If you know anyone who has been adopted and has been told that they were specially chosen, you know the power of that statement when they realize why they were adopted into their family. We are chosen by God to be His children. We can experience the power of that right now!

Also, He has sent His Spirit to confirm that He is our true Daddy. We are not His slaves, but we are His children. We have independence of thought and action and feeling, and are able to connect to Him with a genuinely free response.

Lastly, we are His heirs to the kingdom. Princesses and princes at last! A heavenly crown to throw at the feet of Jesus (Revelation 4:10)! Have you said yes to the privilege of spending eternity with Him, and yes to the authority to rule with Him and Christ? We are here as His leaders in the world and His church. But we are not alone, we have His family with us.

So maybe this means you can feel less stress about the little things in your day? Or worry over losing that last ten pounds, who really cares? It could mean a new respect for a Christian brother or sister or family member that somehow tends to get on your nerves! Instead of buying a new couch in the latest color, maybe you could enjoy generously spending that money to help someone in need? Hmmm …

What might being part of God’s eternal family mean in your earthly family during this season?

Abba God, thanks for sending Jesus for me. I claim eternity with You, my right as Your child. Your family is my own. I don’t want to sweat the small things, especially in family matters. Give me big tasks to accomplish for You, along with Your spiritual family, Amen.