Being Family

How well do you get along with your family?

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. - Romans 8:28-29

I today's reading from Paul's letter to the Romans, we are reminded that we are called by God to a purpose, each of us.  We each have a set appointment to do or be something according to what God has in mind for us.

We may accept or reject it, if we hear it or learn of it at all.

But there is more to this.  We are known by God before we even get to know of God, and that's important.  And because He knows us better than we can know Him, He sent His son to show us what He is like.

He became brother as well as father to us, and that makes us family.

Woah!  (As Fonzi would say.)

Now we might get our backs up and take exception to this, thinking we are being molded, shaped, used.   But we are neither puppets controlled by strings, nor robots, programmed in advance.  We are independent thinking beings, capable of making our own decisions, mistakes and all.

Isn't it ironic that we are so busy trying to make machines that can think like we do and yet fear they will make decisions we don't like?

We may be made in God's image, and we may love to "Play God," but we certainly don't want to have His responsibility along with it.

So, Paul focuses on being like Jesus rather than like the Father.  We have been given an example to follow and it is the Christ.  To be contributing members of this family, we should listen to God's call and fulfill our purpose, whatever that may be.

But families tend to get out of control, especially when they are big and widespread.  Some don't talk to others and arguments can last for generations.

So, acting like family members may not be ideal, but striving to follow the example of Jesus may give us a shot at building a loving, living family of God.

Of course, when we try to take control, we run into trouble, and that may be the message here.

While I long to accept that I have little, if any control over the world around me, through faith I believe God will guide me and together, as one family, we will be all right.

So, let us set out to be brothers and sisters in faith, and see what God has in mind for us.  It may be better than struggling alone.

More to come...