Familial Intimacy - Ruminating in the Word of God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 22:29,

"I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Jesus tells his disciples they will be members of a "kingdom", a
unique family of people who will sit at his table to eat and drink
with him. These are special ones who will "sit on thrones", an
expression of stature and authority, even "judging the twelve tribes
of Israel", the nation God made of Abraham.

This reminds me of John's observation, "to all who received him, to
those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children
of God", John 1:12. All who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ
have become children of God. Because we are children in this kingdom,
this family, we share in the inheritance that belongs to Jesus Christ
as God's Son. "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we
are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs
of God and co-heirs with Christ…" Romans 8:16-17a. We also read in
Galatians 4:4-7, "When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born
of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might
receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the
Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba,
Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a
son, God has made you also an heir."

How remarkable that God the Father has made us into a kingdom, into a
family, that will share in all he has given his Son, Jesus Christ. To
think that forever we will have a place at his table and a place in
his heart as family members is astonishing. Where the world is
estranged from God and alienated from his purposes and agenda, we who
have been given "the full rights as sons", embrace our heavenly Father
in familial intimacy. We are his and he is ours!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com