1-21-2019

Good Morning All,

        1 John 3:1; “Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are.”

    I hear the question frequently.  How are you related to (fill in the name)?  I confess, I rarely know.  Our grandparents were cousins seems to satisfy most inquiries; whether the statement is accurate or not I do not know.  I will often come home and look at the church’s genealogical records and try and figure it out.  The original was done in the mid 1970’s so some updating is required.  Yet it does lead to some interesting reading and some “I didn’t know that” moments.

    The genealogy of our church is fascinating because there were fairly large families who lived in relatively close proximity of each other.  There were about 10 families that originally came into this area and then combine that with some who were already here and some who came a few years later and the combinations begin.

    There are so many families intertwined that the tree looks more like a bush or a vine with all the weaving and twisting of the relationships.  We see two sisters that marry brothers or a brother and a sister who marry a sister and brother.  This church was built in a large part on these types of marriages.  Very few people moved very far away and some of them went on and had fairly large families.  This made the church grow.  As we went through the genealogy, we see how important family and the family structure is to our church.  We have many 6 generation families of our church going from the founding members to the youngest ones today.  Family is important.  Family is important as we are part of God’s holy family.

    That is what makes our verse today so relevant.  Family is important.  As we watch the world and our country dissolve and fail at many of our most basic needs; it is often because we no longer value family as we should.  We see family only in a biological sense and not in an emotional or supportive sense.  God is all about family.  We are God’s family.  He has made us part of his family.  Through the blood of Jesus we are called God’s dear children.  That almost sounds like we are the favorite children; we are.  We are the favorite because of the love that God has for us and this is apparent in the price he paid to redeem us from sin; he paid with the life of his Son.

    We are God’s dear children.  He invites us to call upon him at all times, in all situations every moment of every day.  He brings to us his Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us and to keep us safe in him.  We are God’s dear children; celebrate this and live in the certainty of hope that we have.

Dearest Father, your love for us is deeper than any ocean.  We are overwhelmed by your grace.  Keep us in your mercy and give us your strength as we stand in a world that knows no love.  Guide us to share your love with those around us.  Show us those who need your love and use us to bring them your grace.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret