Daily Journal: 18 July

A Privileged Family Bond

We are not called to go first through this life. We are invited to follow someone who wants to lead us into a family and a place of true belonging. We are being called and gently led to the Father by His Son through His Spirit.

Isaiah 40:11 (CSB)

He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, goes ahead of us in all things. He has made the way for us to walk in. He has invited us into a family relationship with Him, to be brothers and sisters with Him.

Romans 8:29 (NLT)

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn ^[supreme^] among many brothers and sisters.

This is a spiritual mystery, valuable to meditate on, and why the meaning should not be lost on us.

Hebrews 2:9-11 (NLT)

Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

Without holiness people cannot see God, cannot be reunited with Him (Hebrews 12:14). But we are made holy through Christ’s perfection and so are vindicated through Him.

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLV)

But it is true! Christ has been raised from the dead! He was the first One to be raised from the dead and all those who are in graves will follow.

We follow Christ into all things – through suffering, past death and into glory with our Heavenly Father (Romans 8:17).

Galatians 4:6 (NLT)

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

Knowing my inheritance is as a redeemed, adopted family member is powerful. This is not a common family bond. Jesus Christ is Shepherd and King of all kings.

Psalm 89:27 (NLV)

I will make him My first-born also, the highest of the kings of the earth.

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

We surely do experience a privileged family bond. Receiving the brotherhood of Jesus is to receive adoption as children of God. Owned. Belonging. Secure. Safe-guarded. Kept. Never forsaken. Sealed.

This is what it means to be His “sheep”, and part of His family.