Purpose Driven Life Day 15

Day 15, May 15th, "Formed for God's Family" 

  - God wants a family and created each and every one of us to be a part of it. Ephesians 1:5 says, "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure." God didn't need a family He desired one. When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our FATHER and we are apart of His family. This means all other believers become our brothers and sisters and the church our spiritual family. Rick Warren says, "Every human being was CREATED by God but, not everyone is a CHILD of God." In order to become a child of God you have to be born again. This means believing that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. "You become part of the human family by your 1st birth, but you become a member of God's family by your second birth." Rick Warren. The invitation to be a part of God's family is universal, it is having faith in Jesus. I know we think that our family here on earth is very important and they are but, our spiritual family is even more important because that family will last forever. Our family here on earth is fragile, the family can be broken from divorce, distance, growing old, and/or death.

BENEFITS OF BEING IN GOD'S FAMILY
   - The benefits of being in God's family are simple:
        1. We are given the family name
        2. We are given the family likiness
        3. We are given the family privilages
        4. We are given the family intimate access
        5. We are given the family inheritance
   - Galatians 4:7b says, "...and sense you are His child, God has made you also his heir." Heir is defined as a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death. "Here on earth we are given the riches...his grace...kindness...patience...glory...wisdom...power...and mercy but in eternity we inherit even more." Rick Warren. The 5 things we inherit when we go to heaven are:
   1. We will get to be with God forever
   2. We will be completely changed to be like Christ
   3. We will be freed of all pain, death, and suffering
   4. We will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service
   5. We will get to share in God's glory
Rick Warren says, "The eternal inheritance, not retirement, is what you should be looking forward to and working for." We need to look forward to eternity in heaven more than our retirement.

BAPTISM: IDENTIFYING WITH GOD'S FAMILY
  - Baptism is publicly proclaiming your faith. It signifies your inclusion in God's family. Baptism symbolizes your death to your old life and announces your birth to your new life. When I was growing up I grew up Lutheran, we were "baptized" as infants. Once I got in college and after college I started going to other churches and really felt that I had not truly been baptized. I did not have the choice when I was a baby, my parents chose for me. When I was doing a internship at Newberry College in Newberry, SC my baseball players invited me to church. I did not know they were doing baptism that Sunday but they were. I felt the tug in my heart to go up and get baptized. I went in my jeans and a t-shirt and was baptized right then! It was the greatest feeling! Now, baptism doesn't make you a member of God's family, only faith in Christ does. If you have not accepted God into your heart then being baptized doesn't mean anything. You have to accept God into your heart first and then get baptized. Baptism is like an act of initiation. It should not be delayed, once we accept God into our hearts we can be baptized that very day.

LIFE'S GREATEST PRIVILEGE
  - Jesus makes us holy. Being included in God's family is the highest honor and greatest privilege you will ever receive. If you have not accepted God into your heart and believe Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior you can say this simple prayer:

   Dear God, Thank you for loving me, enough to send Jesus to die for my sins. I believe he rose from the grave. I believe he is Lord. Come into my life and save my soul. Thank you for loving me today and receiving me into your family. 
    Amen


If you prayed this prayer please comment!  I'd love to hear from you and help you grow in your faith.

Point to Ponder: I was formed for God's family.
Verse to Remember: "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by brining us to himself through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:5a
Question to Consider: How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family?