Part of the Family

Read: Ephesians 1:3-6

“Leo, it’s your turn to help with the dishes tonight,” Mr. Phillips said as the kids finished scraping up the last smudges of tomato sauce with their garlic bread.

“Why do I have to do so much around here?” asked Leo.

“Because you’re part of the family, and family members help with the chores,” answered Mr. Phillips.

Leo looked down at his plate. “Even though you’re just my foster family?”

Mr. Phillips looked across the table at Mrs. Phillips, who smiled as the kids began carrying their dishes to the sink. “Leo, do you know why we agreed to be your foster parents?” she asked.

“Well, I’m guessing it wasn’t for my dishwashing skills!”

Mrs. Phillips laughed. “Not even close! We didn’t care what you looked like, sounded like, or how smart you were. We loved you even before you joined our family because God created you in His image and brought you to us.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with me washing dishes?” Leo asked.

“Think of it this way,” said Mr. Phillips. “We become part of God’s family when we trust Jesus as our Savior. We can’t earn a place in His family, but He sent His Son to die for our sins because He loves us and wants to be our heavenly Father. When we become His children, our actions and words should show it. His love for us makes us want to serve Him and love others.”

Mrs. Phillips nodded. “You weren’t born into our family, but since you’re part of it now, I hope you’ll want to show it by helping with the dishes.”

Leo brought his dishes to the sink and turned the water on hot. As he began to scrub, he turned to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. “So it’s okay that I’m not the smartest kid in class or the best on the basketball team? You guys love me no matter what and want me to be part of the family?”

“Absolutely,” said Mrs. Phillips. “It’s not about what you do, Leo. We aren’t going to send you away when you mess up or make a mistake. You’re part of our family now.”

Leo couldn’t hide his smile as he turned back to the sink and continued washing dishes for his family who loved him.

–Emily Saxe

How about you? What’s your family like? Maybe you’re adopted, in foster care, or you live with relatives. Whatever your situation, if you trust Jesus as your Savior, you’re in God’s family forever! He loves you and will help you love others, and He’ll never turn you away when you mess up. If you’re not part of His family, you can become one of His children today. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today's Key Verse: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Be part of God’s family