Wednesday, July 2, 2025

“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” (Ephesians 1: 5 - 6, The Message Bible)

           We have moved to our new home in Whitby. I am not sure that it feels quite like “home” just yet, but we will get there. There are still plenty of boxes to unpack. (It’s been too darn hot to get too energetic about such things.)   Lots and lots of changes to process and manage. I used to thrive on change – not so much anymore. It’s much too stressful and exhausting. I want my quiet life back.

            But one thing is for sure, we are grateful beyond measure for all the help that our family has poured into helping us make this move. We could not have done this without them. Our four adult children and their spouses and partners all pitched in. Katie and Gary were the key leaders but everyone helped us in making this major transition. Even some of the grandchildren kicked in. They gave up several weekends to help empty the house of all the stuff and junk we had accumulated over twenty years of living in Peterborough. They made umpteen trips to Value Village and the Re-Store with unneeded household items. They filled dumpsters. They made trips to the dump. They cleaned and scoured. My brother asked me how we got the good kids. All I can say is that family has been one of the most important key values that we have always tried to instill in our children. Apparently, it caught. We reap what we sow and we are proud of them and very, very thankful.

            “May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.” (Psalm 144:12, New Living Translation)

            Our Ephesian’s text reminds us that we are God’s Family through Jesus Christ. Paul expands on this elsewhere in his letters. “Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’”  (Romans 8:15) I recognize that there are many people, especially women, who have had terrible and painful experiences of fatherhood and family.  I can only hope that the loving experience of being in God’s family might heal, transform and transcend those memories.  But that means we all have to pitch in and help one another in the process, responsibilities and support of what it means to be part of God’s Family. “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

            Being in God’s Family calls for the best in us. Jesus once said that family is more than blood ties but we are joined together through faith and the fruit of our faith. “Then he pointed to his disciples and said, ‘Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!’” (Matthew 12: 48 - 50) Family is the fruit of our love for one another. It is more than a shallow token idea about Church. It is in the very fibre of our being in fellowship with open another.  For it to be a reality, we need to intentionally practice the soul of what it means to be God’s Family. “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16) That is not just mere hyperbole or foolishness; it is how we work, play, worship, pray and enjoy life together as if our lives depended on each other.

            “My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3: 14 -15, The Message Bible)

Dale