“Family.” It’s one of those words that when you say or hear it—you feel it. You can’t really help yourself. The word, “family,” evokes certain emotions.
As we are born or adopted into our family setting, most of us didn’t get a choice. With family, you get who you get. And hopefully, you have a family who learns to live with each other, and grows with each other—a family who adapts to change, and accepts one another.
Because ultimately, family is about love. Or at least it should be.
When you think of “family,” do you feel love? Or do you feel pain, turmoil, shame, fear or rejection?
Despite having family around you, do you often feel alone?
If this is you, please keep reading—as I share what God has in mind for you, when it comes to family.
You see, God has always been big on family.
After all, He has a Father’s heart.
God’s Family is His Original Plan for Humanity.
If you were settling down to start reading a really good book some evening, where would you begin? In the middle? Or maybe the last chapter? Of course you wouldn’t. You would start on the very first page, because you wouldn’t want to miss a thing.
Your Bible is no different. Its very first words are, “In the beginning,” as it opens the curtains of time and history.
If you haven’t read the first few chapters of Genesis lately, you really should. Descriptive and compelling, the scenes of the creation story are fast paced. And it’s eternal truths—like the stars He created—are far flung.
Within the first chapter, Almighty God manages to create all of the heavens and earth, and the very first human being. By the end of the second chapter, we see Adam and his new bride, Eve, fully established in their garden paradise—watched over by their loving Creator, and surrounded by a myriad of friendly animals.
But astoundingly, by chapter 3, everything seems to be ruined. Already! Our lovely couple has messed up everything. After disobeying God, they are driven from their perfect garden home.
And so it goes. All of humanity has lost its rightful place and purpose. And countless multitudes of earth’s coming generations are now plunged beneath the curse of sin and death. And why?
God had one rule—just one rule—for Adam and Eve, and they managed to break it. They would give in to the temptation of Satan, who was bent on destruction. Tantalizing Eve with forbidden fruit, he knew that the moment it was eaten, they would never be the same again.
Obedience was broken, and sin entered into the heart of mankind. But ultimately, what was Satan so desperate to ruin?
Family.
Because family was God’s plan. And family was going to change everything, forever.
God’s Family is a Love Relationship.
A few years ago, we spotted her within our neighborhood—definitely a stray, and long on her own. She was weak, worn down and skinny. We could see the sadness and desperation in those soulful eyes, all the way from across the street.
We put food out and tried to befriend her, but she wouldn’t come to us. It was obvious that this sweetie had a tough life. A life of fear and rejection—maybe even mistreatment.
And she wasn’t taking any chances with us. She had yet to see that we were different.
She did have one lonely kitten with her. Sadly, owls had probably taken the others. We were able to befriend her one little kitten with some food. Mama cat took notice, and started to hang around the house, but was still quite wary of us.
After about a week, we noticed that she was plumping out. Uh oh. We realized that she would soon be gifting us with a batch of kittens. No one plans to have a batch of kittens in their life, but hey—kittens happen.
The day arrived when we could see that she was in labor. Maybe it was the labor pains, or just the fear of losing more kittens—but somehow, we were able to coax Mama cat into the safety of our garage. And from that moment, she began to change. She was noticeably grateful, as she purred and pushed out each little furball.
She was really never the same after that day. Her trust in us blossomed. Our caring and feeding of her kittens also began. And soon, Mama—who once would have nothing to do with us—found herself rubbing up against my wife’s leg. The bond had begun.
Because when a kitty cat rubs up against you, that means something very good. They have now accepted you into their feline family. The bond goes both ways, and a real love relationship had started. We were all now family.
My wife and I cherish this whole experience with Mama and her kitties (we still have them!) There is a sweetness of this experience, that we know comes from the heart of God Himself. Because family was forever God’s idea—His will for mankind.
It has a lot to do with identity.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)
God had a marvelous plan. Brilliant, really. The plan was older than time itself. A plan as ancient as the Ancient of Days. And yet, it was new. Something welcome and wonderful.
It was mankind—made in God’s own image, after His likeness. And God would become their identity.
Humanity was powerful, purposed and dominating. Satan had never seen such a creation. No doubt, he hated it. Feared it. He hatched a plan of his own to derail it.
Because mankind, if left to succeed upon planet earth, would one day rule the world. And that was exactly what the enemy had planned for himself.
Remember, family is about a love relationship. Within the garden of Eden, God lovingly walked and talked with His new offspring. It truly was a loving relationship. A trusting relationship.
The close family ties had been broken by Sin. God and man had both lost something very precious.
But Love was the way to get it back.
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
In this verse, we see Jesus explaining something to the Jewish leaders of His day. All of the law and the prophets’ words hung upon one central issue: the love relationship.
First, a love relationship between man and almighty God. And secondly, the parallel commandment: a love relationship with man and his fellow human beings.
Nothing else was more important to God than these two love relationships. And, why?
You may have guessed. Family.
From the beginning, God—the Father of all creation—has been calling people to Himself. To be His forever family.
And He is also calling His children to introduce many others to their Father God, that have not yet found His loving embrace.
The Father desires many to come to Him, to be a loving extension of Himself—as His children, but more specifically, as His sons.
God’s Family is About Sonship.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (Genesis 2:7, 21-22)
Man was formed from the dust of the ground, and life was breathed into him by God. Woman was then taken from out of Adam’s side, and presented to him by God.
Adam was God’s first earthly son, created in God’s own likeness. Created with power, authority and purpose, man had the glory and the wisdom given by God, to subdue the earth and rule over it.
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:7, 23-24)
We are now presented with God’s design of marriage. One man, with one woman, as one flesh.
But this also introduces something else into creation: sonship.
It isn’t a word we often hear. In once sense, the word “sonship” appears to leave the female element out of God’s authoritative processes. But that isn’t the case at all.
Remember, woman is actually and purposely part of man—taken from out of him, to be joined with him. They are certainly one in marriage, but they are also one in the sense of God’s creation. Together, they comprise mankind.
Obviously, we all know the differences between men and women. But God’s purposes for creation extend far beyond what we might recognize as physical or emotional differences. Because these differences are temporary.
God’s eternal purposes involve sonship. Sonship has nothing to do with being male or female—but it has everything to do with power, authority and rule within His kingdom.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:14, 16-17a)
In the time and culture that this was written, only sons could be heirs in a family. These verses clarify the fact that all children of God are heirs with Christ. Therefore, all of children of God are sons. As mind-blowing as this is, we—men and women—are all sons.
Another mental hurdle to get over is if you are a Christian and are a male. Being a male, I really have no problem accepting the concept of sonship in God. But also being a male, I might squirm in my seat at church sometimes, when I hear phrases such as, “we are the bride of Christ” or “the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
If I let my own earthly thoughts prevail of what a “man” should be, I miss the greater purposes of God—which go far beyond this present life.
We must realize that we will not always be a male, or a female. This is our present place in creation. It is temporary, and it is incomplete. What will endure—beyond this frail physical existence of ours—is sonship.
“And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:34-36)
Women also need to understand this truth, and what it means for all believers. You might enjoy the role of wife and mother in this present life, but your destiny in God is to be a son.
Remember: we are becoming like Christ Jesus, into the fullness of His stature, and His powerful place of authority.
This is who we are, if we know Him.
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:13,15)
Until we all come…into a “perfect man.” Men, and women…all growing and becoming “perfect man.” How is this possible? Sonship.
Because in God’s eternal kingdom, becoming “perfect” is about becoming sons. Sons who are adopted into God’s eternal family.
Sonship is about Adoption.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7)
Because of Sin, mankind could no longer automatically become a child of God. Our family relationship was broken long ago, in Eden. But now, through Christ, we are redeemed and accepted.
And through the Holy Spirit residing within us, we have received the Spirit of adoption.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)
All we who were afar off, because of the fall of mankind from the beginning, are now made able—through Christ Jesus—to be fully accepted into God’s family.
Jesus cleanses and clears the way for all who choose Him, the Son (which also means choosing the Father,) to now enter in through adoption as sons.
That word “predestinated” can be confusing for some. But don’t let it worry you, as some Christians might suggest that our free will is limited, or that we are somehow not able to embrace Christ out of a willing heart. That is not the correct way of looking at it.
“Predestined” simply means that God, in His wisdom, planned and prepared a way for us to choose Him. God predetermined that if we would willingly choose Him—by choosing Christ Jesus—then He could joyfully choose us.
God’s way of growing His family of sons, was planned before the foundation of the world!
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”(Romans 8:28-30)
Here we see that to be predestined is just a part of the process of God’s eternal purposes. Once we are adopted, we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (spiritually restored to the God image) by Christ Jesus, who is the firstborn of many brothers.
And if we are brothers, then we are sons of our Heavenly Father. And if we are sons of our Father, then we are heirs with Christ.
And if we are heirs with Christ, then we obtain an eternal inheritance.
Sonship is About Inheritance.
Someone once composed a little song years ago—it was so simple and sweet. It went something like this: “Just give me a little log cabin in the corner of Heaven…that’s all I need…” or something humble like that.
It’s a cute thought, but believe me—it isn’t anything even close to what our Heavenly Father has prepared, for those who’ve made His Son Savior and Lord.
We are sons, and we inherit a kingdom. Our kingdom has a real King, and we shall reign with Him. It is a royal kingdom—powerful, magnificent, and mighty!
I get it. I like little log cabins too. But cabins in Glory just won’t do. God longs to lavish His promises upon us!
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5)
The poor of this world, now rich—in faith, and heirs of the promised kingdom!
Remember, you are a son of God. An heir of God. Yes, even a joint-heir with Christ!
Imagine where that puts you in eternal places with God. Imagine how highly God has esteemed those who love His dear son.
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)
As a little child, we sit on the right hand of the King. And we are blessed.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
A kingdom prepared for us—and yes, even the earth itself—shall be our inheritance.
What an incomprehensible thought to realize that He who reigns, reigns with us—not just over us.
We are sons. We are adopted. We are family, and we are sealed—for eternity.
God’s Family is Your Eternal Destiny
“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:12-13)
When we become sons of the Father, through Christ Jesus, God seals us with the first fruits of inheritance—the precious and powerful Holy Spirit, who takes up residence within us. He holds us and keeps us, assuring us that we are heirs of God’s eternal promises.
As sons, we are called into our destiny with God—and we have a predetermined purpose. Our God-given destination and domain is always and forever in Him.
We are sons of the promises. Sons of the Father—the Almighty One. Purposed for greatness—because of His greatness!
We are family members of the firstborn of many brothers. Joint heirs through salvation, to reign with our mighty King in glorious places.
This is who we are right now, destined and determined by God—for great things that only He can fully understand.
Who will be in Heavenly places with Christ? Have you ever honestly considered who?
The Presbyterians will not be present there. And no Baptists will be there, either. Pentecostals? Not a one. Lutherans, Methodists or Episcopals? Nope. How about Catholics, Charismatics, or Congregationalists? Sorry, none of those.
I left about 40,000 other denominations out. Not enough room. But my point is this: The religions and rituals of man don’t even make it past the front door of God’s eternal Kingdom.
It takes something so much more real and righteous than religion—and that is to rest in the mighty work of He who is faithful to save.
Christ Jesus—our Worthy One, who brings sons to the Father. Who, through His own cleansing blood on the cross, brings many sons unto glory. No one small or great, male or female, or of any human significance whatsoever.
Just sons.
Who then shall appear before Him? Who shall at last be granted audience before His mighty throne? Who will be ushered in and welcomed into the courts of the King?
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
His sons—who are ever changed into His image—from glory to glory, by His Spirit. This is God’s eternal family—from the very first of many brothers, created in His own image.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The “whosoever” of humankind—those who will believe in Christ Jesus—are destined to be the sons of God, for all ages of time to come.
As sons of the living God, we are given the power and the authority to show Christ Jesus to the world. And to give ourselves away—that the life and love of Christ might be plainly seen through us. For the purpose of bringing others to our Father for adoption, as sons.
And son, this is your job description right now.
Take these last days, hours and moments of opportunity to be who you really and rightfully are, in Christ Jesus. You are part of God’s family. Born of earth. And wonderfully born anew from above.
You are a son of the most High God. And there is no other son just like you.
There’s no other family like this.
And there’s certainly nothing to compare to what lies before you…in Him.