"[Abraham] is the father of us all" (Romans 4:16).
Today, families with 3 or more children are not so common. Seeing parents in a restaurant with a large family might cause heads to turn. Decades ago, however, families of 6 or 8 or more children were not that uncommon. However many children are in a family today, they are all blessings from God!
In Jesus Christ, we are part of a family numbering in the 100s of millions. The spiritual "gene" that links us all is saving faith. Abraham possessed such faith. He believed God's promise of salvation long before God's Only-Begotten Son entered our world as a man.
Abraham's faith in God's promises shows us what pleases God the most. Not our religious works or talents or abilities or stature or position, but our faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ -this is what pleases God. Because of his faith, God accepted Abraham as His child.
The Lord sees our faith as well. Through faith in the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation with God provided through Jesus' suffering, death, and Easter resurrection, we too are accepted by God as His children. This is why we have so many Christian brothers and sisters. What a blessing for each one of us!
I give thanks to our gracious God for the brothers and sisters I have on this forum. While all of us may not meet in this life, our family reunion in heaven is something I cherish now!
Please keep strong your faith in the salvation the Lord has freely provided in Jesus. Our family reunion... --what a day that will be!
-Dale
