Family Tradition

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For  you did not receive the Spirit of God again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!"  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8: 14-18 NKJV 

I hear of people today who complain of their dysfunctional families.  Somehow, there are wounds that have been opened through the years.  What is troubling to me is that these statements are usually made with the utmost humor and sarcasm.  Now, I've always been a big proponent of strong families, it is this dynamic in our lives that I believe instills in us alot of what we will become.  However, it is also here that some of our deepest wounds can be initiated.  So it was with me.  Growing up without a father, I know all too well the pain of a broken family.  However, this was not something I  would joke about either.  In this there was often more pain than humor.  This begs the question, what is our "Real" family?  Where does our lineage lie?  For me, my belief was that my heritage was one of a broken family and a father who was absent in my life.  This was what I was faced with.  However, despite the absence of my own father, I was not completely without one.  For as the apostle Paul tells in in Romans 8:14, we who are in Christ share a far greater heritage.  Yes, our own families may have caused us hurt, pain and frustration, but there is a family where our loving  father will never leave us nor forsake us.  

Behold what manner of love the family has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we knnow that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 John 3: 1-3 NKJV 

One thing that I wish that I had known early on was the heritage that I would enjoy as a child of God.  Yet, there are many who still do not know in their hearts the joy of this truth.  For where our physical families may be limited by the flesh, the family of God knows no such physical limitations.  Therefore, where there may have been pain, there is now only love.  For if there is one word to describe our Lord, it is love.  It is this love that sent Christ as a sin offering in our place, that we would be washed of the very sin that scarred us.  It is also by His love that we now have a daily walk with Christ who is in us.  

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 NKJV 

In our hearts we need to realize that we indeed have a loving Father who loved us so much that He would send His only Son in our place to save us.  Is there a earthly father who would do the same?  Perhaps, but our faith confirms that our heavenly Father is true to His word.  Whatever wounds we may carry from our family relationships, there is one family where our Lords love will replace whatever hurt and pain we have ever felt.  For we are now heirs with Christ Himself.

~Scott~