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Living in the Family of God

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   It’s simple, really.  The contrast is as plain as looking at Adam’s family and Jesus’ family.  That’s right.   The first family broke fellowship with God.  The second family restores relationship with God.  The family of God is all about the restoration of what was originally lost in the Garden of Eden.  By falling into sin, mankind plummeted into an abyss of severed relationships and out-of-control lives.  Adam’s family is all about covering up what is wrong and hiding from God.  Jesus’ family is all about bringing what is wrong into the light of God’s love so that it can be healed and recovered to its original purpose. Look at these contrasts:

    

  The traits of Adam’s family:

1. Being deceived by a lie--the woman submitting to the devil’s lie

2. Willfully rebelling--Adam eating the forbidden fruit knowing it is wrong

3. Trying to cover up failures--using fig leaves to hide their shame

4. Hiding from God--not coming to God for help because of the grip of sin

5. Making excuses and blaming others when confronted--Adam blaming God and the woman, the woman blaming the serpent.

    

   These are just five.  There are many other traits such as condemnation, anger, pride, lying, etc.

    

   The traits of Jesus’ family:

1.  Seeing our true and sinful condition in the light of God’s merciful love for you

2. Willingly repenting of our sin and receiving God’s forgiveness through Jesus

3. Courageously partnering with the Holy Spirit to heal the root issues of our needs’

4. Living in the light of God’s love through on eying the truth of His Word

5. Accepting responsibility for ourselves so that Christ can dwell in us and give us His power to overcome.

    

   These are just a few of the principles that govern our relationship with God, each other and ourselves that we discover in God’s family.

    

   Family is God’s precious creation.  It is so in His heart to restore families through being in His family.  Please read Ephesians 3:14-21.  Love—hear it—love is the premium foundational quality that is lavishly given to God’s family members.  Loved one, learn to receive His love for your own heart and life; and you will overflow in His love to others.

 

 A child in God’s family, Pastor Roger