1 Samuel 12:22

22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

As we go into this season of giving, let us consider one of the gifts that was given to us. We are the people of God. We are not the people of God because it was our choosing, we are the people of God because it pleased Him. We are to Him, in a word, Family. We are not paid servants or even slaves, to Him, we are family. Which means we are loved as family and, just as with our family, there are times He is not happy about what we do but He made us His family for his pleasure and He took us for better or worse.

Romans 6 tells us to not continue in sin because we have grace so let us use this gift of family as an anchor to keep us from sin and as a foundation stone for our testimony. We are loved because to Him we are family. No greater testimony of love can one give than to say I love you, you are blood of my blood. He does not call us adopted, He calls us brother and sister. We are family. In this one statement, the Lord says call on me and I will answer, in the midnight hour I will hear not out of obligation or debt but in love. There is no greater gift in heaven or earth than for our mighty God to say you are my people and I am your God.

There will be days that the sun will not shine, aren’t you glad that our God says in those days you are still my people, Family. There will be days you will rejoice and see the glory of God, and in that day, you are God’s people. There will be days if you are not sure and doubt crowds your mind and heart, but rest assured even in that day you are God’s people. Finally, there will be days you will turn completely away from him but know this, even in that day you are God’s people and He will seek to restore such that are his. You are God’s People. You are God’s family.

Why? Because it pleased Him to do so.

Take this gift and use it to strengthen the weak knees and the feeble hands. Take this gift and use it as manna in the wilderness. Take this gift and use it to make the final push to the mountain top. Take this gift and come home to God. You are God’s People you are God’s family.

-Pastor Scott