I remember when our oldest son was first married. We welcomed his new wife, Ashley, into our family, but there were times she still seemed to feel like an outsider. Slowly she began to grow into the idea that we truly saw her as family. Then, one day, I knew she really got it. Our entire family was gathered in our family room, laughing and just enjoying time together. Out of the blue, Ashley playfully walloped me in the face with a pillow. I was stunned and thrilled all at the same time. It was obvious to me that she clearly sees herself not as some sort of added-in extra baggage, but as family.
Too often we fail to see ourselves as truly a part of God’s family. Oh, we may occasionally see it or perhaps for a short time. Yet the next time we mess up, we can easily begin to think that God has about had it with us. We’re done. Finished. It’s over. Family was a nice idea, but we were just foster kids, ready to be shipped back when anything went wrong.
That’s not what the Bible teaches, though. We’re not foster kids. We were adopted into His family (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5). He has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:15).
If you’re a believer in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, you’ve been made a part of the Lord’s family. You’re His! You belong to Him!
To Make You Think 