Welcome to the Family

“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Ephesians 2:19 NLT

“Welcome to the Family.” I had to smile as I saw the words come across the big screen at church as we ended the Resurrection Sunday service; by welcoming all those who chose to make Christ their Savior that morning into the family. These were the same words I had recently spoken to the graduates of the latest Couch to 5k program I had the blessing of teaching. After putting in six weeks of work, the determined men and women in the group ran or walked 3.1 miles at our Frog Fitness Group (FFG) Saturday group run. “Congratulations!” I said to them as I took a finish line photo of them wearing their hard earned medals. “Welcome to the family!” And they knew exactly what I meant. By their actions they were now “members” of the FFG running family and the family of runners worldwide. 

 

And you know, when it comes to being part of the family of Christ, the Bible tells us that prior to the coming of Jesus, the Jewish people considered Gentiles to be unclean and inferior. But through the salvation that Jesus’ death and resurrection provided, those Gentiles who chose to follow Him became “members of God’s family” as do all those who choose to follow Jesus Christ today. By their actions, they are “no longer strangers and foreigners” then,  but “citizens along with all of God’s holy people.” Do you just love that or what? 

So in a world where people are desperately looking to fit in and find their place, let us sound the trumpet that everyone is welcome in God’s family my friend. They’ll certainly be glad that they don’t have to run a 5k either—but simply need to call upon the name of the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for welcoming all those (Jew and Gentile alike) who choose to follow You into your family. Help us to be bold in sharing the message of Salvation with the lost Lord so that the family of God will grow and the lost will find their place. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!