Moments of Grace: Part 5

Family relationships hold many different emotions and expectations. Depending on your situation, when you think of your family you may feel great joy, happiness, and thankfulness, or you may feel anger, sadness, hurt, or even fear. No matter who you are, it is highly likely that your family greatly effects you life, one way or another.

The Bible says a lot about families, but the family aspect we will focus on today involves a relationship that is the most joyous, peaceful, wonderful relationship available: being a part of the family of God.

As we think about grace, we can see God’s grace clearly displayed in the fact that He chooses to identify Himself as our “Father.” John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” This means that if you are a true believer, you have been adopted into God’s family as His child and heir; and God is the perfect Father who never fails! Our earthly families are made up of fallen individuals. In even the most “ideal” family in the world, the family members inevitably hurt each other and fail. But you can trust that God will never leave, never hurt, never disappoint – you can trust in Him as Father because He is trustworthy.

Although all earthly families are imperfect and fail, God can still use good, God-focused families to reflect His relationship with His children. One of our staff members, Jen, shared with us her experience over the Christmas holiday season with her full household:

I am the oldest of 6 children, and my parents are caring for 2 young foster boys, so there were 10 of us sitting around the dinner table on Christmas Eve. Christmas with my family was anything but quiet. Yet even in the crazy busyness and noise of it all, God’s grace was evident in the love He has given us for one another and the precious family relationships He has blessed me with.”

What a great display of God’s act of grace in providing each of us with a perfect family in Him! Where others fail, God never does. Let’s praise God today for adopting us as His children!

Bethany Dunn
Bethany heard about Vision of Hope while attending Word of Life Bible Institute in Florida. When she began praying about what God wanted her to do after graduating, He kept bringing Vision of Hope to her mind. Knowing that there was an internship available, Bethany applied, was accepted, and began her internship with VOH in July, 2012. Since then she has been amazed at the opportunities God has given her to learn more about His Word and how it applies to everyday life. Bethany now serves on staff at Vision of Hope.