Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God"…
— John 1:12
In preparation for an upcoming St. Patrick's Day celebration a reporter commented that she wasn't Irish. The organizer of the event emphatically stated, "Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!" I must admit I am pulled into the holiday with the Irish stew at St. Anne's, wearing green for the day and watching the movie, "The Quiet Man". While there isn't much Irish in my lineage, on that one day of the year I identify with Ireland.
All of us want have an inner desire to know where we came from and what our ancestors were like. A television show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" explores the roots of famous celebrities. As they delve into the past they learn about their descendants and how they lived their lives. On a recent episode a man heard how his grandfather said the family was like a hand.
Each finger represented a family member. Spread out, each member goes their own way, but when they are closed tightly around each other they become a powerful fist able to fight off any thing that threatens the family.
I have friends who had wonderful childhoods surrounded by godly parents who raised them to do the same with their own children. I also have friends who felt they were abandoned by their family either through divorce, death, or abandonment. The ones I admire the most are those who overcame their circumstances and are raising their children following the Lord's teachings. Their desire is their children will come to know Jesus as their savior at a young age and not go through the same problems as their parents.
How wonderful it is to avoid taking the wrong road in life and being able to be accepted and loved by others. In the verse in the beginning,
Jesus is the one who is referred as "him". Jesus is the one who made it possible to become part of the family of God by receiving Him as personal savior. It doesn't matter if you are male or female or what nationality you are. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus".
There are many benefits in this family. First off, no matter where you go, you are never alone. Before Jesus ascended into heaven He told the disciples, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world". While that is a comforting thought it is even more personal for believers.
Romans 8:15 tells us, "ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father". The word, "Abba" to the Jews means the same as "Daddy" to us. No matter what we can always run to our Abba when we need comforting.
Remember the story of the fist? As followers of Jesus we become part of a huge family. Romans 12:5 says, "So we, being man are one body in Christ,and every one members one of another". Believers are part of a huge family that spans the globe. Who do you think you are? I know for a fact I am a child of God who will spend eternity in heaven with a family of countless other believers.
Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at: