Chapter 19 Day 15 I Was Made for the House of God

Day 15 I Was Made for the House of God The God who created and sustains all... that many sons may enjoy his glory together. (Hebrews 2:10a, modern Chinese translation) See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we may be called children of God, And we are truly His children. (1 John 3:1, New Version of the Bible) You were made for the family of God. God wanted a family, so He created you to be a part of it.This is the second purpose God has given to your life, and it was established before you were born.The entire Bible is the story of God building a family that He wants to love Him, honor Him, and reign with Him forever.The Bible says, "It is God's unchanging purpose to take us into his family through Jesus Christ, and this is well pleasing to him."

Because God is love, He values ​​relationships; His very nature is based on relationships, and He identifies Himself in family relationships: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.The Trinity is the relationship between God and himself, the most harmonious and perfect relationship, and we should study the meaning of it. The Trinity has always been in a relationship of love with Himself, so God is never lonely, He doesn't need a home, but He wants a family, so He created us and brought us into His family, share all about him with us, This brings great joy to God.The Bible says, "It pleased him to create us with the word of truth, and we became firstborn in his family."

When we trust in Christ, God becomes our heavenly Father, we become His children, other believers become our brothers and sisters, and the church becomes our spiritual family.The family of God includes all past, present, and future believers. Everyone is created by God, but not everyone is a child of God.The only way to enter into the family of God is to be reborn into it.By your first birth you were part of the human family, but by your second birth you were part of the divine family.God "has given us the right to be born again, so that we may become part of the family of God". The invitation to become part of God's family is universal, but on one condition: believe in Jesus.The Bible says, "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

Your spiritual home is more important than your physical home because it is your eternal home.An earthly home is a wonderful gift from God, but it is fleeting and fragile, broken by divorce, estrangement, old age, and inevitable death.But our spiritual family—the relationship with other believers—is a bond that lasts for eternity and is stronger than blood ties.Whenever Paul paused to think about God's eternal plan, he couldn't help but praise: "When I think of God's wisdom and plan, I bow my knees before our God, the origin of every family and race in heaven and earth."

Benefits of the House of God From the moment you are born again into God's family, God has given you some amazing birthday gifts: last name, looks, privileges, close relationships and inheritance!The Bible says, "If a son, he is an heir through God." The New Testament places great emphasis on our rich "inheritance."The Bible says, "My God shall supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." As children of God, we can share in the wealth of this family, and on earth we have "abundant Grace, kindness, patience, glory, wisdom, strength, and mercy,” but we will inherit more in eternity.

Paul said, "I want you to know what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people." What does this inheritance consist of?First, we will be with God forever; second, we will become fully like Christ; third, we will have no more pain, death and suffering; fourth, we will be rewarded and reassigned to ministry; Finally, we can share in the glory of Christ.What an inheritance that is, richer than you can imagine! The Bible says, "God has reserved for his people a blessing in heaven; it is incorruptible, undefiled, and fades not away." This means that your eternal inheritance is priceless, perfect, long-lasting, protected from you; no one can take it from you, nor can it be destroyed by wars, recessions, or natural disasters.This eternal inheritance is not retirement, it is something you should aspire to and strive for.Paul said: "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." Retirement is a short-sighted goal, and you should work for eternity and live.

Baptism: A Sign of Inclusion into God's Family A healthy family has something to be proud of, and the family is not ashamed to admit that they are part of the family.The sad thing is this: I have met many believers who have never publicly acknowledged their belonging to the family of God by being baptized as Jesus commanded. Baptism is not an optional ceremony, you can delay it as you like.It represents your entry into the family of God, your public declaration to the world, "I'm not ashamed to be part of the family of God." Have you been baptized?Jesus commanded all of his family to obey this wonderful command.He tells us, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

For a long time, I was puzzled by the fact that Jesus listed baptism, evangelism, and teaching as equally important in the Great Commission.Why is baptism so important?Later, I found out because it symbolizes the second purpose of life that God has given us: to participate in the fellowship of God's eternal family. Baptism has great significance: baptism declares your faith to others, represents that you are buried and resurrected with Christ, symbolizes that your old life has died, and publicly declares that you have a new life in Christ, and also celebrates your joining God's house.

Baptism is also a realistic picture of spiritual truth, representing how God brings you into His family: "Whether we are Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, by one Holy Spirit we are all baptized , became one body and drank of one Holy Spirit.” However, being baptized does not make you a part of God's family, only faith in Jesus does.But baptism shows that you are a member of God's family. Like a wedding ring, it is a physical reminder that we should not forget the commitment from the heart. Baptism is the beginning, not something you do when you mature spiritually. The Bible states that the only condition is that you believe.

In the New Testament, people are baptized immediately after believing in the Lord.On the day of Pentecost, three thousand people were baptized on the day of their conversion; others, such as the Ethiopian eunuch, were baptized on the spot after conversion; Paul and Silas were baptized in the middle of the night for the Philippian jailer and his family.There is no such thing as baptism later in the New Testament. If you have not obeyed Christ’s command and received baptism to express your faith in Christ, go and be baptized now! life's greatest privilege The Bible says, "For both he who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are of one. Therefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Let us remember this wonderful truth: You are part of God's family Members, God is proud of you because Jesus has made you a member of His family!Jesus’ words are absolutely right: “Jesus pointed to the disciples and said, “This is my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, sister and mother” and becomes a member of God’s family It is the supreme honor and privilege, nothing can compare with it.Whenever you feel unvalued, unloved, or insecure, remember that you belong to God.

Being a part of God's family is the highest honor and privilege you can have.