SJF - Daily Worship, Spirit and Word - Feb. 16, 2024

God has called us to make disciples - not orphans. Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans.” God creates family. He loves us and adopts us as His children. In His eyes, we are brought into the same class of being as Christ Jesus. He seals this by giving us His Holy Spirit to be with us and in us. We are family - and not just some unaccepted step-child. We are “accepted in the beloved”.

If God makes us family, what are we to do with each other? We make each other family. We create family like our Father. When we make disciples, we teach them the things that Jesus commanded. We show them the love of God. We forgive their sins. We teach them kingdom culture. We teach them to speak the truth in love as they grow up into the head, even into Christ. We teach them with our own loving words and actions.

This is why there are verses like this: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8, NKJV)

Our first responsibility is to our family. Then we care for the family of God.  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10, NKJV). All the while going into the world and making disciples - giving birth to more children of God and bringing them into family of God.