Topic: What in the World Is God Doing? [RICK WARREN Devotional 6 April 2023]
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What in the World Is God Doing?
BY RICK WARREN — APRIL 6, 2023
FROM WHAT IS JESUS DOING NOW
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
God is always at work in the world. But the most important thing he’s doing is building a family to love forever.
God has been planning his family since before he created the universe. In fact, if God had not wanted a family, the entire universe would not exist! Everything else that has happened in history and that’s still happening is peripheral to the overarching purpose of the universe: God wanted a family.
Ephesians 1:5 says, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (NLT).
There are only two ways you can get into a physical family: You’re either born into it or you’re adopted into it. God uses both ways as symbols of salvation in the Bible. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are born again and adopted into God’s family.
Every human family is temporary. But God’s family, your spiritual family—the church—is permanent. It’s eternal. It’s going to last forever because it’s made up of all the people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ to save and transform them.
The Bible says in Hebrews 2:11, “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. This is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (CEV).
Did you get that? Jesus wants to call you his sister or brother!
Becoming a part of God’s family is a free gift. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NLT). But it’s also a choice that you need to make by faith. You can choose to accept or reject his offer of salvation.
Jesus gave his life for you by dying on the cross so you could have your past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in heaven.
God the Father wants his family to become more like him. So, when you accept his gift of salvation, you commit to not only love God with all your heart but also love everybody else in his family—because God is love.
God is always at work building his family. That means you can join it anytime!
Talk It Over
- How do you think God wants our physical families to reflect his eternal family?
- In what ways are you helping build and grow God’s church? Or in what new ways do you think God is calling you to help build his church?
- Why is the church a good place to learn how to love people like Jesus does?
The invitation to God’s family is wide open.
No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. Just believe and receive.
Are you ready? Start by praying this simple prayer: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.
“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.
“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I ask you to save me. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
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