Last week our future son-in-law, Chris, got down on one knee and
asked our daughter to marry him. He had talked to me more than a month before
and I told him we would be proud to welcome him to our family. Kayla said “YES!!!”
The house is now abuzz with wedding plans. We are excited to add to our family.
When Cheryl and I got
married, her dad immediately welcomed me into his family. In many ways I’m
closer to him than I ever was to my own father. Dad Campbell looks at and loves
each of his children-in-law as his own children. Cheryl and I plan to follow
his example as our children wed.
Isn’t this what God
does? Every child is a precious child of our Papa. Note, I did not say every
child born. I mean every child – whether that child ever had the opportunity to
take a breath of life or not – is a precious child of God. Remember, he says he
knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:1). He says he has loved us and chosen
us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).
This should be
comforting news to anyone who has miscarried or aborted a child. In the case of
abortion, God does not hold those decisions against us; all sin has been
forgiven in Christ. I really wish more Christians would focus a bit more on God’s
love and less on judgment when it comes to abortion. We may all be pro-life, but
we are also pro children of God realizing all of us make all kinds of choices
that hurt others and God loves us in spite of ourselves.
This Sunday is called
Christ the King Sunday. It’s a reminder to us that Christ is not the king of
this world, he is the King of Kings and his kingdom is a growing kingdom,
welcoming all who want to come in just as we are. His kingdom includes all of
God’s children – I emphasize ALL!
Just as Cheryl and I
are excited to add Chris to our family, God is thrilled to add all to his
family. We can’t force Chris to love us (though he already does) – just as God
never forces anyone to love him. But he welcomes all as the loving Papa of a
growing family. – Rick
