For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Ken and I have been reading from a book called “Tatoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” written by a Jesuit priest, Gregory Boyle. Father boyle was retelling a story of a gang member who recently got back out of prison. He had called Father Bole and wanted reassurance that Boyle thought of him as a son. The idea that this kid wanted to feel loved and accepted like a son shows the overwhelming need that we all have to fit into a family.
Whether a gang member, a wealthy stock broker, or a monk living in silence to become closer to God. We all have a need to feel apart of a family. We are also more alike then we realize. Every human is flawed in one way or another. After Adam and Eve sinned, sin stayed in this world and it is a daily struggle for each of us.
I talk to many disabled people who feel “put-out” by their biological families. The families may be ashamed of the abnormality or afraid of the burden this disabled person may bring about. What a scary and frustrating synario that you have to live with. Your very own biological family feels you are not worthy of your place in the family. This rejection gets amplified when you feel not welcome at work or school or maybe in a social situation.
I tell these individuals and myself, when facing this rejection that we are all worthy of a family and this kinship is eternal. Romans 8:14-18 reminds us that we are all children of God as soon as we accept Christ as our Savior. These verses also remind us that we will suffer here on earth, but the glory waiting for us in heaven will exceed our wildest expectations. Praise be to God!
It is my prayer that you take heart and remember always that your forever family in Christ will always be there and you are worthy to call yourself son or daughter of the King!