Expanding the Family

by David Gibson

I knew a wonderful family in Pennsylvania who lived in a big house on Flagstaff Mountain—a great place for kids. This Christian home opened its doors to those with special needs, and several of the children were adopted.

For centuries, God’s family consisted of His covenant people, the descendants of Jacob. Tragically, many of them failed to remain true to the covenant, thus forfeiting their right to be called God’s children (John 8:33-47). Yet God had plans—wonderful plans—for expanding His family.

In time, God “concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name” (Acts 15:14 NASB; see Galatians 3:14). As Paul wrote to Gentile Christians, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household . . .” (Ephesians 2:19).

It grieved Paul that so many of his fellow Israelites had fallen away from the family. Wherever he went, he dedicated himself to reaching both Jews and Gentiles.

Whenever we bring someone to Christ, we are acting as adoption agents. We are helping expand God’s family—exactly what He wants us to do.