by Justin Morton
We are all a part of a physical family. Some of those families may be small, while other families may be rather large. I realize not everyone has had a great experience when it comes to their physical families, but many of us have grown up with families that we are thankful to be a part of. Like many of you, I love and appreciate my physical family very much. However, there is another family we should be just as grateful to be a part of.
When Paul was writing to the saints in Ephesus, he explained what their lives were like before knowing Christ (Eph. 2:1-3) and by the grace of God, what their lives were like after they came to know Christ (Eph. 2:4-22). During his discussion on this new life in Christ, he mentioned, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).
When we obey the Gospel and are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, we become citizens of the kingdom of heaven (Phil. 3:20) and “members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). I just love that thought. While being a part of a physical family is special, being a part of the “household” or family of God is extra special. One of the reasons is because of where the household of God will spend eternity—in heaven with God the Father and Jesus the Son. And while we wait for that glorious day, being a part of the family of God today brings many blessings. My family and I are experiencing some of those very benefits during this time in our lives.
When we first learned of Miranda’s health diagnosis, we were devastated. Sitting in different doctor’s offices and listening to them talk about what lay ahead, was unsettling. We had so many different thoughts running through our minds about what we were going to do, how we were going to do it and what things would look like moving forward for our family. In total honesty, it was incredibly overwhelming.
Paul told the church at Corinth, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (I Cor. 12:26). Since the announcement was made publicly, we have felt all the love and support of God’s family here at Walter Hill. You all have provided so much encouragement and strength in a time when our family greatly needed it. Over the last couple of weeks, I have often remembered the words of Paul when he said, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). What a blessing it is to be a part of the family of God!