“Family ties”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Thursday, August 15, 2024
Galatians 4: 4-7 (Forward, p. 17) CEV p. 1218
I’m proud of my family, especially given its long history of public service and Christian faith. Be that what it may, there was nothing I could do to achieve this on my own or orchestrate it in any way. No, it was simply a matter of my birth to a certain set of parents. I had absolutely no choice in the matter. It was entirely up to my parents.
The apostle Paul, in today’s passage, speaks of yet another family, one that we belong to by virtue of being believers in Christ Jesus. And, as with our own families, that we belong to this family is not because of anything that we have done. No, it is entirely because of Jesus’ faithfulness in fully obeying the Law of Moses, which resulted in us being set free from that Law. By virtue of that, and that alone, we could become God’s children. But then, there is a slight catch: we must be willing to take on that status, to become part of that family. We must put our faith in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 3:26). Belonging to Christ makes us part of that family (Galatians 3:29). So, it is not something that we should ever boast about as being something of our own merit or doing. However, we should take pride in it, live accordingly and give thanks be to God for such an incredible privilege.
Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God” (verse 7).
“I do not remember knowing any adopted children when I was growing up, but my biological parents divorced when I was very young. When my mother remarried, I did not take my stepfather’s name. This raised questions among my peers. My family was broken.
“My stepfather, Bob, got the family package when he married my mom—three pre-teen daughters. After some adjustment, he took to the challenge and helped our family to mend. Bob and my mother were married for more than 50 years. He has been a strong father figure to me throughout my life. Bob treated me and my sisters with respect—as his heirs. I know now that not everyone is this lucky.
“Children are vulnerable, especially when their parents die or divorce. History is replete with stories of wicked stepparents and unwanted children pressed into servitude. This is why adoption is so important. God invited us into the family—and then took it one step further and made us heirs to the kingdom.”
Moving Forward: “Thank someone who cared for you as a parent.”