Not many things bring a bigger smile to my face than looking into a room and seeing my four-year-old and two-year-old playing together. No pushing, no shouting, no angry looks... just pure imagination and giggles of excitement. I wonder if it's the same for God? When he sees his children working in harmony, faithfully serving him in the Great Commission, does he feel joy? Would that bring a smile to his face? I think so.

As we read in this issue of Faith & Fellowship, we have been adopted as God's children. "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all, and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:12-13). God has chosen us, and we are saved by faith. Paul writes, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). We are a family of believers.

What does this mean for us as a family? What is the significance? We all have a different history, different experiences, and different relationships with our families. Some of us know our families well and some of us do not. No matter what our experience with our earthly families has been, we can rejoice in knowing that—through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—we have an eternal family and a father who loves us more than we can ever imagine. God's desire is that we live in a spirit of unity as we follow Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:10).

My daughters don't always get along, but as the saying goes, "blood is thicker than water." Their love for each other comes with being part of the same family, and that always brings them back together. In a similar way, the blood of Christ brings us together as part of his family. As Christians, we are unified by Christ's death on the cross. We are called into unity to glorify and serve our Father in heaven with one heart and mouth (Romans 15:6)

By Tim Mathiesen

Tim Mathiesen serves as Director of Communications and Prayer for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.