A New Family

Ephesians 2:11-22

Through the years there have been movies and TV sitcoms about a family accepting an individual into the family. The stories usually detail some of the strife and troubles of integrating the individual into the family with plenty of humor to make for good entertainment. In real life there are families who adopt or serve a foster families who accept individuals into their homes and integrate these individuals into the established family.

Just as a work group goes through stages of development I suspect so too does a family. I assume there is plenty of conflict as an individual with completely unique norms and habits attempts to integrate into a system with different norms and habits. In this week’s reading Paul discusses how Gentiles are now part of God’s family. Now, I imagine back in the day Paul was writing, this was absolutely scandalous. How could “THEY” be part of “OUR” family the Jews likely thought. Paul quickly provide the answer: JESUS.

It is interesting to read and think about my (Gentile) own integration into God’s family. The Jews had had the market cornered on being God’s chosen and then Jesus comes and through his death and resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit he established a new Chosen group free to everyone, not just a certain bloodline. Suddenly people who where “outside” the bloodline were family dining at the same table and worshiping the same God!

Paul says that “He came and preached peace to those of you who were far away and to those who were near” so not only do we have a new “family” but we are instructed to live in peace and love. No longer do we have to have a “them” and “us” mentality, rather we have new brother and sisters in Christ and we are to go about our lives in peace and love. What a great recipe for happiness.

In reading Choices by Smedes (1986) he notes that to have happiness, a person needs to have: health, love, freedom, peace, truth, beauty, character, and gratitude. Jesus provides many of these things through his love for us. It is refreshing to read the story of my “birth” into God’s family because I am not Jewish so I am one who was outside of God’s family. As Paul would say, I was “far away” from God but through Jesus and my believe and faith in Him, I am now a part of God’s family, I am part of a new family and my father wants me to be filled with love and peace. What a great family to be a part of!