My son has Down Syndrome and to assist with his special educational needs, an aide was assigned to him over 10 years ago. They immediately bonded and she became a vital part of his school life, assisting and pushing him to learn at the same level as his typical peers. Most aides are changed every year by the school district but the bond that the two forged was unique and all of the school administrators and teachers recognized this. In an unprecedented move, the school district has allowed the two to remain together from elementary school through high school. We are profoundly grateful for her relationship with our son. She loves him as much as he and all of us love her. She is a part of our family and we would trust our son’s life with this dear woman and sister in Jesus Christ.
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:26-27 (NLT)
What greater confirmation of the love and trust is there when one accepts someone into their own family? Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated when He turned to His beloved disciple, John, and asked him to look after His earthly mother, Mary, after He was crucified. He accepted John into His own family, trusting His mother’s life with him. In the midst of the agony of dying on the Cross, Jesus placed His mother’s needs above His own, seeking to ensure she was cared for by someone Jesus loved as a brother.
Not many of us are fortunate to meet someone that we will accept as a member of our own family. It takes years of trust but once the bond is forged, it is indelible. Isn’t this how God accepts us when we confess and repent of our sins and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior? It may take years for us to trust Him enough to commit our life to Him, but when we do this, God adopts us as His spiritual children and gives us the privilege to call Him Father. He sealed this promise with the blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for our sins.
In this life, we have an opportunity to embrace all believers in Jesus Christ as family members, brothers and sisters in the Church of Jesus Christ. It is an indelible and eternal bond. The beauty is we do not need to spend years to get to know them and build trust. In Heaven, in the presence of Jesus Christ, we will have an eternity to meet all of them. We will all be able to trust one another because we have been sanctified by power of the Resurrection.
Amen!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 