“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.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
Along with the many gifts God gives at Christmas, we also receive the gift of community. God gives us a spiritual family to support us in obeying him and becoming more like him.
You weren’t meant to go through life alone. You were meant to know God, and you were meant to have a family around you to support you. We always grow and change more in a group than on our own. That’s why most diets and self-help plans don’t work!
God created the entire universe because he wanted a family. 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” (NLT).
You’re not automatically in God’s family. You have to be adopted into it. How does God adopt you? He adopts you when you choose to put your faith in Jesus. But he doesn’t want you to just believe in him. He wants you to belong to his family.
Believing in Jesus is all you need to be saved. But once your future home in heaven is secure, God also wants you to belong to his family. Why? Because life is hard, and you’re going to need support. You need a community to help you make good decisions and hard changes.
The Bible says God created the family for support. That family is “the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 NIV).
In California, we know the importance of a good foundation because we sometimes have earthquakes. If you don’t have a good support and a good foundation, the house crumbles when the earthquakes come.
You need support for your life. If you don’t have a strong foundation through the support of a spiritual family, you’re putting yourself at risk of crumbling when the tough times come.
Everybody is created by God. Everybody is loved by God. But not everybody is a child of God.
The only way you get into God’s family is by choosing. When you choose to follow Jesus, you get the amazing gift of a family that will support you and help you pursue God’s purpose for your life.
Why do you think it’s important to be part of a small group when you need the support of your church family?
What does it say about God’s character that he gives us the choice to follow him?
How has your church family supported you during a time of adversity?
Where will you spend eternity?
The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).
If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, start with this prayer:
“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.
“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.
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