“And He answered, It is not right (proper, becoming, or fair) to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Matt 15:26 (Amplified)
I just could not believe what I was hearing, but as we were repeatedly turned away from one door after another, it finally dawned on us that no one would allow us in to share the gospel with them on Christmas day. We had assumed that since Jesus was the reason for the season, there was no better time to share Him with a world in need of His love. To someone not born or raised in the EU, this sounded very reasonable. So, it was a total shock to us when people politely refused to receive us or hear our message, the recurrent reason for their refusal being that they needed to spend time with their families. We persisted in our endeavour until one Christian family finally invited us in and shared their gratifyingly hot turkey and side dishes with us, which thankfully warmed our by now numbingly cold cockles. Needless to say, we learnt a valuable lesson in our journey to integrate into the British society – don’t you ever mess with the British and their family on Christmas day. You will most likely lose.
There is something about the family that makes us want to spend what we consider the most important times with them. This is because the family reinforces our sense of identity and affirmation. Our seeking to be with the family on such occasions is a clear statement as well as an indication of our priorities and how important we regard our loved ones and are willing to maintain healthy fellowship with them. At the back of our minds, we know that when push comes to shove, the family will always be there for us; hence our investing time with them.
The bible states that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. So, where God is concerned, we are family, and just as it exists in the natural realm and was duly affirmed in our anchor verse, there are family perquisites or fringe benefits that accrue to us by reason of our relationship with God. The standard fare of Christianity are righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, but are by no means restricted to these. The benefit which Jesus was alluding to in the above passage had to do with healing and the principle He vocalised was the “Children first, dogs later” policy of heaven. This reality has not changed an iota as God still persists in putting His family first. In fact, all He does in this world is primarily to fulfil His plan with respect to the family He is raising in this world – His Church, of which you are a bona fide part if you have acknowledged His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
So, as you celebrate Christmas with the earthly family, which God has ordained for you, never forget the awesome fact that you are part of a larger family whose head is the Almighty God. Also bear in mind the fact that you are entitled to access and fully enjoy the benefits that accrue to you as a fully paid-up member of that family. If you are presently going through a difficult patch, understand that you are not alone. The church militant as well as church triumphant are cheering you on. So, keep the faith.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for branding me with the Holy Spirit and thus identifying me with you. Thank you Lord for calling me your own and for blessing me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. Help me to appreciate and protect the family you have given me so that we may all glorify you with our lives in Jesus name. Amen.