Part of the Family 家里的人

[Dexu Xia]

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.  Ephesians 2:19

Downton Abbey was a popular British television drama that followed the fictional Crawley family as they navigated a changing social structure in early 1900s England. One of the key characters, Tom Branson, initially worked as the family’s chauffeur before shocking everyone by marrying the youngest Crawley daughter. Following a period of exile, the young couple returned to Downton Abbey and Tom became part of the family, gaining access to rights and privileges he had been denied as an employee.

We were once considered “foreigners and strangers” (Ephesians 2:19) and excluded from the rights given to those who are part of God’s family. But because of Jesus, all believers, regardless of their background, are reconciled to God and called “members of his household” (v. 19).

Being a member of God’s family brings incredible rights and privileges. We can “approach God with freedom and confidence” (3:12) and enjoy unlimited, unhindered access to God. We become part of a larger family, a community of faith to support and encourage us (2:19–22). Members of God’s family have the privilege of helping each other grasp the enormity of God’s lavish love (3:18).

Fear or doubt could easily make us feel like an outsider, keeping us from fully accessing the benefits of being part of God’s family. But hear and embrace once more the reality of God’s free and generous gifts of love (2:8–10) and bask in the wonder of being His.

What are some other benefits of belonging to the household of God? How might you approach God in confidence today?

Heavenly Father, thank You for welcoming me into Your family as a child of God

你们不再作外人和客旅，是与圣徒同国，是上帝家里的人了。—以弗所书2章19节

广受欢迎的英国电视剧《唐顿庄园》是虚构的故事，讲述考利家族如何经历英国二十世纪初期社会结构的转变。剧中一个关键角色汤姆 · 布兰森原本是该家族的司机，后来却娶了考利家族最小的女儿，震惊了所有人。这对年轻人因此被家族流放一段时间，最终回到唐顿庄园，而汤姆也正式成为家族的一分子，得到只有身为家族成员才拥有的权利与特权。

我们也曾被视为“外人和客旅”（以弗所书2章19节），不能得到上帝家里的人才享有的权利。但因着耶稣，所有的信徒不论任何背景都能与上帝和好，并且能被称为祂“家里的人”（19节）。

身为上帝家里的人，可享有极美好的权利与特权。我们可以“放胆无惧，笃信不疑地来到上帝面前”（3章12节），可以无所限制亦不受拦阻地亲近上帝。我们也因此加入了一个更大的家庭，一个彼此支持与鼓励的信仰群体（2章19-22节）。作为上帝家里的人还有一项特权，那就是能帮助彼此明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深（3章18节）。

惧怕或怀疑很容易使我们感觉自己是局外人，以致无法享受作为上帝家中成员的各种益处。你能再次来感受上帝慷慨且无限的爱（2章8-10节），并沐浴在作祂儿女的奇妙中！

作为上帝家中成员还有哪些益处？
知道你是上帝的孩子，
能如何激励你今天就充满信心地来亲近祂？

天父上帝，谢谢祢欢迎我成为祢家中的一分子，
并赐给我作为上帝儿女所能享有的权利与特权。