An Easter message from Cindy Rohrer, a missionary in the Philippines. Cindy shares her insight on families and how what Jesus did brought all believers into the family of God.
The theme at Consider the Lily this year has been “We are Family,” and how fitting this is as we celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection during this Easter season. When our girls come to live in our safe homes, along with a safe environment where they can study, play, and grow, they are also welcomed into a new family. The other girls become their sisters and the staff members become their mommies, titas, ates, kuyas, nanays, and tatays. In a similar but much more profound way, when we become a believer, we are welcomed into a new family—the family of God. However, the only way that we, who are not of Jewish heritage, can be included as members of this family is through what Jesus accomplished on the cross through his death and resurrection. It says this in Matthew 27: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:50-51) When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two, which was a physical representation of what was happening in the spiritual realm- that the dividing wall that once separated the gentiles from God was torn down, so that now anyone who believed in Jesus could now be brought into his family. Now, as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ, we have every privilege and right that a child of God has: 1. We have a glorious inheritance which we are co-heirs to with Christ. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17 ESV) 2. We have the privilege of calling God our Abba, Father. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV) 3. We are included into the family of God that includes all believers through all past, present, and future generations. “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’” (Revelation 5:9-10 ESV) It is an amazing work of Jesus that our girls at Consider the Lily can experience what it’s like to live with a family that loves, supports, and encourages them in various ways. But what an even more marvelous privilege that believers can experience what it’s like to live as a member of God’s family, with all of the full benefits that come with that. As we celebrate Easter this year, may we be filled with joy and gratitude toward Christ for what he had to endure so that we could be safe and secure in his family.
Comments