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Aug 11, 2023 18:30pm
Part of God’s Family
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“Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten.”

This is a well known quote from the cute Disney movie, “Lilo & Stitch”. Lilo couldn’t have chosen more beautiful words to describe family.

For some of you, you might say, “okay, done. I’m not reading this anymore. This is some sappy post about loving your family.” And for you, that’s a hard concept because you’ve been hurt by family, abandoned, mistreated or abused, or have been cast out. Someone said those words to you – “I love you”, but their actions certainly didn’t show it.

Is that love?

Don’t stop reading friends, there’s more. Much more.

“Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”

Luke 8:19-21

This is Jesus speaking. The crowds gathered are so massive that his mother and brothers cannot get closer to Him. If I were speaking, sharing something super important, I would want my family to have a front row seat. But Jesus didn’t stop what He was doing and part the crowd to bring them forward. Instead, He shared something so beautiful here.

“My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”

Don’t miss this.

Jesus wasn’t just saying He was the Messiah, the savior of the people, although that would have been enough.

Jesus opened the door for us and said, “Welcome home, brother. Welcome home, sister.”

His family does not just include His blood relatives, but it includes those that hear His truth and obey what He says.

Before Jesus’ death, obedience was fulfilling the law. But since His death, this is accepting the finished work He did on the cross as our Savior and choosing to follow Him daily.

We listen and obey.

Is this what we are really doing? If we are a member of God’s family, a son or daughter, are we listening and obeying His commands? And how do we know what He says we are to do?

It’s all in His word, the Bible.

If you aren’t a part of God’s family yet, this is the time to come. He opens the door wide to you.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 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; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Romans 8:15-17

This is what we receive when we accept Christ as our Savior. We come to Him in full surrender and ask Him to save us, and yet He gives us so much more. We are adopted into His family, becoming joint-heirs with Christ!

And why is it so important to decide now to be a part of God’s family?

Because, like Lilo said, family means no one is left behind or forgotten.

The time is coming for His return and He will call His children home. You will not be left behind if you are a part of God’s family.

He sees you. He knows you. And He loves you. You are not forgotten.

Trust Him today.

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