The God and His Family Series consists of 16 episodes. In the New Testament, one of the most common descriptions of God and his people is that of a family. This series is designed to talk about that relationship in detail.
Jesus introduced the concept that God is three spirits in one – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From that terminology, God is a family.
Jesus and the New Testament writers often use family terms to describe the relationship between God and his people. They draw on relationships such as: father, children, sons and daughters, and adopted sons and daughters. These relationships not only imbue privileges, but also confer responsibilities.
It’s hard to see in English but Jesus sometimes refers to God as his Father and sometimes as “Daddy.” Part of the Good News of Jesus is that God can also be our Father and Daddy.
It has always been normal for people to suffer. God has not promised that his family will suffer less than others. In fact, the New Testament indicates God’s people get to endure an extra measure of suffering. While suffering is not pleasant, it does have beneficial effects.
Paul writes that suffering produces benefits. In Romans 5:3, he wrote, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
James seemed almost thrilled with the benefits of suffering. In James 1:2-3, he wrote, “Count it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the test of your faith produces perseverance.” He goes on to say that maturity is another result of testing.
Suffering gives people an extra credential when acting on behalf of Jesus. Acts 5:41 says, “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
