In Ephesians 2 there is the outstanding theme of You are no longer alone, but you are near to God and adopted into a family! After thanking God for this truth and writing out a prayer, I thought of the implications that this presents me and others with. I am certain there are many more, but these are a few that came to mind and heart.
* It should spark us to worship the God who did the work of bringing us near to Him.
* It should give us an increasing sense of loving obligation towards our family members in Christ.
* It should cause us to consider our words and actions carefully, moving us to obedience to the God who was once far off, but now is near.
* It should encourage us to live lives of open repentance and honesty because we are a family built by sovereign love and mercy that neither nor man can ultimately tear apart.
* It should strengthen us when we come up against temptation and sin. We are not lone fighters in the spiritual war against sin and death, but members of a band of brothers and sisters in the same fight.
* It should give us the desire to want to "make family" just as God has made a family through His Son. These means inviting others into the family of God. God's heart is that none should perish but that all should be a part of His family. It is the family's job to invite "loners" into God's family, and pray that He does the same work in them that He has done in us.
* It should move us away from isolation and towards others.
* It should change the way that we pray for the hearts of other believers.
* It should change the way that we pray for the hearts of unbelievers.
* It should change the way we celebrate, eat, rest, and listen.
* It should forever alter the way that we (if you are married or not) look at the covenant of marriage.
* It should change the way we look at heaven and the coming kingdom.
I pray you are encouraged by His Word!
