Family

Ephesians 3:14 onward 14-15 When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— 16 that out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvellous love; 18-19 and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. Yesterday we once again witnessed something special going on with our fox family. Daddy fox was again in the garden around breakfast time. He looked very tired and was even limping a bit. My better half prepared the food and gave it to him on the lawn. Although he must have been hungry, he sniffed at it, licked it - then thoughtfully, he picked it up and took it away to his cubs first.

We think he must be struggling to feed such a large family, but he forgets himself to put his family first - he's looking rather skinny. It just shows how God's heart is imprinted on creation. Our Lord Jesus emptied Himself, came to earth to bring us salvation. He didn't have to come, but He put us, future members of His family, before His own safety and comfort. How great to know that we are part of God's eternal family, yes,we really are! Romans 8:15 And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God’s very own children, adopted into the bosom of his family, and calling to him, “Father, Father.” 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for all God gives to his Son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. If father fox is so kind to his cubs, how much more can we be assured of Our Heavenly Father's care in Christ Jesus. I heard a brilliant explanation about not worrying - you mums and dads will understand. Little children are not concerned about how to pay the mortgage or electric bills. They just expect to be provided for by their parents. Human families have finite resources, but Our Heavenly Father has no such restrictions. We are in the family and he will look after us and bring us home to Heaven.

A prayer Father God help me not to insult you by worrying. Help me always to remember that you are there looking after me.