The Family Reunion

The Family Reunion

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 8:11

As we continue to consider the long term benefits of our adoption into the family of God, we combine today the two ideas of heaven and family. Before Christ healed the servant of the Roman Centurion, He made this statement, ‘And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.’ Here Christ is declaring that His ‘Family’ consists of more than merely the household of Israel. In fact, He goes on, in the verse after our text, to say that some of Israel would not make it into the kingdom. ‘But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Our text reflects a very happy circumstance for the adopted child of God. Even though we come from rather dubious pedigrees, that does not disbar us from the Family of God, nor does it keep us from the Kingdom, nor does it prevent us from arriving at the ‘Family Reunion’ which Christ describes in our text. Certainly this is one of the blessings and benefits of adoption. God has made us His sons and daughters by adoption. Christ has, by His perfect obedience, purchased our redemption. We have all the ‘rights and privileges of the sons of God.’ Therefore, we have a place at the table. We are those who having come from the farthest reaches of the globe and the most inauspicious of beginnings, have reserved seating at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We enjoy the appetizers today.  Tomorrow, we will feast.

Our Kind and Loving Father,
we rejoice today that You will bring all of us together,
from east and west,
and that Christ Himself waits for us, with out-stretched arms.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning