3 v 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
For many of us, family is significant. Whether it is parents or children, aunts or uncles, brothers or sisters that come to mind, family relationships are a feature of life that most of us experience, (Not all I might add however. There are individuals I know that have no relatives or family at all, and they feel deprived in comparison with the rest of us.)
The family of Christian believers, all linked through common faith in Jesus, also provides relationships that we value. (Again, not all. Some feel at loggerheads or just out of sorts with fellow-believers for various reasons.) But an old expression for ‘Church’ is ‘Brothers and Sisters in Christ’, and God’s plan is that we should be united as an ideal family.
However we feel about our local experience of being part of a church, He calls us ‘His Children’ and therefore we are sisters and brothers in a heavenly family. So like any other family there are difficult members, some may be elegant, others ugly; a few may be especially clever or vigorous and athletic whilst others are … well, different. Whatever those differences might be God says to each one ‘You are my child, and I love you.’ To the good, attractive and healthy ones, God says ‘I love you’. To the backward, disfigured, cantankerous, or perhaps even folk who sing out of tune, God says ‘I love you too.’ No distinction. Love embraces all sorts – including even those we find hard to embrace as family members.
And come to think of it, He even loves me! That’s the most amazing thing! I can sort of understand God loving some of the people I know – but put me in the love-picture – just how amazing is God’s grace after all!
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