ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2 Timothy 3:14-15

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

The church I attended before going to college was one where I was related to almost everyone.  Literally!  There were very few people, at that time, in the congregation that I was not somehow genetically linked to one way or another.  We were truly a family of believers.  Most of my Sunday school teachers, or VBS leaders were great-aunts, or first cousins twice removed.  You get the picture.  From my childhood, my family and family of believers through church, taught me about Jesus.  They taught me about the Bible and the promise that it holds for me.  I often wondered as I grew older, I wondered if having a family of believers that I wasn’t related to would have the same impact.  After all, these were my flesh and blood relatives who had more than just a passing interest in me and my faith walk.

Now after being out of that congregation for some time, I have witnessed first-hand the joy of participating in community of faith that I am not related to.  When the verse from Timothy says, “continue in what you have believed, knowing from whom you learned it,” he doesn’t mean that blood relatives are only to be trusted.  That is the beauty of being in God’s family.  We are all closer than great-aunts, or first cousins twice removed.  We are brothers and sisters!  Every one of us in the body of Christ know that we can “believe firmly” in what has been taught to us through our heavenly family:  Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  Praise God!

Kim Kuhlman

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us this Sunday for Lenten Sunday morning worship (with Holy Communion) at 8:30 and 11, with Education Hour at 9:45.