If you live in the greater Madison area, I would like to encourage you to join Steve Freitag or myself as we spend five weeks discussing the dynamics of spiritual freedom beginning the week of June 19. Details on my class here. Details on Steve’s class here (pdf).
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. — John 1:12-13
By American standards, our home is nothing fancy. It’s a hundred years old and there’s one bathroom for six people. But we’ve done our best to create a space for each of our children. Our oldest daughter painted her bedroom green, brown and yellow to match the tiger posters that adorn the walls. The boys we put in the largest bedroom with a room divider between them. Our oldest boy has the closet with a desk and a fluorescent light inside. Our youngest boy has a bunk bed with a couch under it where he can play video games. We converted the front hallway (which we don’t use anyway), into a bedroom for our youngest daughter, so she has a place to put all her stuffed animals, baby dolls and art projects. It isn’t exactly Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but it’s home.
We also have assigned places for everyone at the table. Most of us are pretty laissez-faire about this, but our youngest child soon sets us straight if anyone isn’t sitting where they belong.
Does it make a difference where people sit at a table? By itself, no. Do children need their own bedrooms? Many, many children grow up never having a room of their own. But these things represent something that does make a difference and is needful. They are our way of saying to our children that they matter, they belong, they have a place in our family, they have a place in our hearts.
You have a place at God’s table. You have a place in His home. If you weren’t there, your place would be empty and something would be missing. Something of great value would be lost. As a member of God’s family, nobody can take your place in God’s heart.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. Dwight and his wife Kim provide prayer ministry for inner healing / transformation and coaching in prayer ministry. He is available to speak to your group or church. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.