There is no denying the importance of family. My husband and children are my first priority and God’s gift to me. When my husband is discouraged, it’s a privilege to come alongside him and encourage him. When my kids are sick, my husband and I are there to nurse them back to health. Our relationships go much further than caring for one another, of course, but often these tangible expressions are the means of expressing our importance to one another. My husband and I are united through the covenant of marriage and have the great responsibility from God of shepherding our children. I imagine you would agree that family is important. There’s another family that is of great value to the Lord, and that is the family of God.
Our Adoption into the Family
As Christians, we are adopted children of God. Paul tells us of our new bloodline when he writes: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16-17). We are children of God and a fellow heir with Christ. Before the foundation of the world, God had us in mind. He created us and then he adopted us as his very own children.
But it came at a price.
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In order for us to be brought into God’s family, his Son had to die. God gave his Son for us to be called sons. We know that Jesus’ death wasn’t short and quick. It was long and agonizing—and it was for us.
Even before his death, Jesus affirmed the importance of being a part of the family of God. Addressing the people while his mother and brothers stood outside, Jesus said, “‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:48-50).
Jesus isn’t making a statement that our biological families are no longer important (see Matthew 15:3). Rather, he is stating that following him is far greater. He takes priority, and so does his kingdom—so much so that those who follow him are counted as his brother and sister and mother—his family.
