Emotional Health

Becoming Family

The next 3 devotionals are written by Jenny Peters on Emotional Health. Jenny Peters is one of the leaders at St Mary's. Relationally speaking she has one husband, three children and one dog.

John 1:1-13

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Reflection

Today’s devotional is the first of three looking at emotional and spiritual health. At the heart of being spiritually and emotionally healthy is connection. Human beings were created for connection with God and with one another. The stronger this connection, the better able we are to thrive in life and deal with the difficulties and stresses that will surely come. Lockdown is difficult for so many reasons, but being separated from so many of the people we know and love has highlighted the vital importance of this connection.

It is immensely comforting for us to know that we can still connect with God even in lockdown. In this passage in John we are taken to the very beginning of time when 'the Word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning.' We are wired for connection because we are made in the image of God, and there is a divine relationship at the heart of God. We worship a Trinitarian God, three in one, Father, Son and Spirit. God himself dwells in a community of love. We, his image bearers, made from love for love are invited into this community. We do not have to respond; John 1: 12 tells us that many did not respond to Jesus. Yet the invitation remains, and those of us who respond are given the right to be 'children of God'. I love seeing photos of new born babies with their parents; this little person begun out of that relationship, joins in the relationship to be family. In spiritual terms, when we respond to Jesus we are like a new born baby, invited into the divine relationship. We become family.

Take time to reflect on your inclusion in the divine family. Look at the delight in their faces as they gaze at you. If it is hard for you to imagine being delighted in, pray asking for God’s help to see yourself through their eyes. You are a child of God. Live today in the light of that incredible truth.

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