Previous Reflections
REFLECTIONS
January 30th, 2022Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his.
Psalms 100:3Family of God
God made you special. “Fearfully and wonderfully made,” the psalmist wrote. You are unique, one of a kind, unlike anyone who lived before or anyone who will ever come into this life after you. Created in the image of God, He made you for a purpose. Have you ever wondered what that purpose is? Here’s a familiar story:
God created man in his own image, / in the image of God he created him; / male and female he created them. / God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:27-28a)
“Be fruitful,” God said. And Jesus explained, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” (John 15:16) Might “fruit that will last” refer to abundant and beneficial growth in the hearts of people? Luke’s gospel noted that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52) So, might God’s primary purpose for our lives be to help our children grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and mankind?
Fruitfulness is the lifelong assignment God gives us. But He also calls us to “increase in number.” Families consist of people closely related by blood or marriage identified as descendants of a common ancestry. So, are we not required to grow our families too?
Fruitfulness evolves from the basic desire to bring new life into the world, nurture it, and help it grow. But what might be the most nurturing lesson to teach?
Moses told the Israelites: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength… Impress [it] on your children.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, 7) Jesus said, “Love each other.” (John 15:17)And Paul told the Corinthians, “Love never fails.”
Fill the earth with love. Is there a more lasting fruit than the growth of the family of God, the Maker of us all.
We grow it best when others feel his abounding love in us.
“You are the light of the world,”
Richard +
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