Band of Brothers

Free from slavery! Adopted into a family! God as your papa! Christ as your brother! Co-heir of the creator of the universe!

Sounds like an offer one can't refuse, and yet as mentioned in the last post, many often do. And one more reason one might opt out is because of something included in the fine print.

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:16-17

"Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.'" Mark 10:29-30

Before you go turning the family of God into a sentimental gathering in a Thomas Kinkade cottage on top of a cozy mountain with the sun setting beautifully each night, read the fine print. Yes, this family offers solid security and unconditional love, and it therefore is a source of deep joy. But this family isn't all warm fuzzies and convenient comfort. It's not all hugs and happiness, kitties and bunny rabbits. 

Because remember: you come into this family by way of a man who was misunderstood, rejected, mocked, and tortured on a cross. He had no home, didn't live with the upper echelons of society, and obviously didn't really feel the need to follow their norms either. He had his mind set elsewhere other than the here and now, and it showed in surprising ways.

If he were your brother, chances are you'd be embarrassed. Chances are you'd kick him out of the house and tell him to get a real job, tell him he's crazy and irresponsible, tell him he's wasting his time and your money.

But wait. If you want to be in the family of God, he is your brother. And if he suffered and was persecuted as a result of obeying his Father--you know, the one who is now your Father--chances are you're going to be in for a bit of suffering and persecution too.

Is that gonna be OK? Or would you rather go build your own Thomas Kinkade cottage? 

(But what does it profit a man to have all the warm fuzzies in the world yet forfeit his soul?!)

Suffering and persecution will never be easy, and we aren't more spiritual if we try to pretend they are. But that solid security and unconditional love, knowing that our Father is all powerful, for us and not against us, has our best interest in mind, knowing that our Older Brother went through far more suffering than we ever will for our sake, and knowing that our brothers and sisters have persevered through their fair share as well, all of that is what keeps us going, and even at times with a bit of joy and hope and peace.

And when something deep from within our hearts keeps crying out to God, "Papa!" even and especially in the midst of painful suffering, that's when we really know we are in fact a part of this family, this band of brothers.