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An Article by Tom Gilbert — January,
2008
The Holidays can, and should be, a time of joy. We gather together
to celebrate and to embrace family time. Christian believers
rejoice at Christmas that God so loved the world (His creation)
that He gave us His only son to restore us to our place in God’s
family. Jesus is God becoming human, the Word made Flesh, one
of us, sent to show us how we are to live as members of the
human race, as part of the very big and diverse family of God.
There is a saying, “Everybody is one of God’s children.” I
truly love this because it reminds me that in God’s eyes
I’m one of many and no more special or less deserving
than anyone else.
The primary message of the Bible is the story of God’s
love for His family. And family is at the core of many of the
great stories in the Bible. More than once an Angel of God
appears with a message that barren couples will have a child.
Abraham and his wife Sarah were quite advanced in years when
promised they would have a son. Sarah even laughed at the absurdity
of the idea, but then denied it to God’s messenger (Genesis
18:10-15). The couple had a son, Isaac and he had children
who had children and nations of people came from that lineage.
In Judges 13 we find the story of Manoah and his barren wife
being promised a son
by an Angel of God. This child was Samson. And let’s
not forget that the very cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist,
a great prophet who had many followers but pointed to Jesus
as the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world, was born of Elizabeth and Zachariah (Luke 1:5-23). They,
too, thought they would never have children. Elizabeth was
about six months pregnant when Mary, herself pregnant with
Jesus, came to visit (Luke 1:39-56) and they rejoiced together
over their good fortune and what God was doing in their lives.
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It Don't Come Easy
Things weren’t very easy for the holy
family from the start. The Gospel of Matthew tells us the birth
of Jesus took place in humble circumstances, but was awe inspiring
to certain shepherds as well as Magi from the East. Joseph
had to take Mary and the baby on the run to Egypt to escape
King Herod’s jealous wrath. When they eventually returned
and settled into a life in Nazareth Jesus was essentially “off
the grid” until his adult ministry began.
Humanity is big, diverse and often bickering – just
like many large families. But God is eternally patient and
faithful and continually strives to bring any of us who fall
away back into the fold.
If you know the story of the Prodigal Son then you probably
get the message that no matter how much we mess up God is looking
for our return (Luke 15:11-32). The story is as much about
the father as it is about the lost son. Each day he anxiously
looks down the road for the return of his wayward son.
Yes,
the son
has
sinned.
He wasted his inheritance. But when he returns the father is
delighted and throws a party with the best food and clothes
for his son.
The other son, the one who has been faithful to the father
and worked hard, is also part of this tale. He is resentful
that the father is being so forgiving and loving to the prodigal
son. He wonders why he never got a fatted calf for a feast
or a big party for him and his friends. The father reminds
him that all he has is for him, too.
Extravagant and Generous
God is extravagant and generous. He is merciful and caring.
Jesus, in his many teachings, continually paints a picture
of a God who is a loving father. It’s not about rules,
regulations and trying to impress God. The Father already loves
us. Jesus keeps giving the message that he came to show us
the Father and to communicate this message of love and the
model of a loving family.
The impact of this message lives on. The inspirational writing
from both 1 John 2:29 and Galatians 4:4-7 tell us that if we
love like God loves we are his children. The very Spirit of
God inside each and everyone one of us cries out to our heavenly
Father.
The Way of Christ is apparent in the Divine DNA we see in creation.
The basic tenets of Christianity are all positive things. Love,
mercy, forgiveness, compassion, service, humility, gratitude
and kindness are attributes of Christ-followers. Not judgment,
condemnation, arrogance, legalism, pride and self-righteousness.
Perhaps the ultimate family example is the relationship of
the Trinity. The Christian belief in a three-person Godhead – individual
yet unified – is a mysterious concept. But the reverence
and affirmation that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit show to
each other is an example of the most holy and wholesome relationship.
Family time is precious time. We need to be good to one another.
We are all God’s kids.
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Scripture taken from the Holy
Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of International
Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services
requires the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright ©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved. |
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