Tag Archives: Family

Devotional

Beloved Children

Leave a comment

Read 1 John 3:1-7

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26 NLT).

The Greatest Showman, the Most Magical Musical of the Year | VogueIn the vibrant world of “The Greatest Showman,” we’re transported to a realm of wonder and spectacle, where P.T. Barnum builds a circus to showcase society’s outcasts and misfits. Among the diverse cast of characters, we witness a powerful narrative of identity, acceptance, and the transformative power of love.

Just as P.T. Barnum’s circus becomes a family for those who find belonging nowhere else, 1 John 3:1-7 reminds us that as believers, we are part of a divine family—a family of God’s beloved children. In the movie, characters like the bearded lady, the acrobat with a disability, and the black trapeze artist face rejection and discrimination in society. Yet within the circus community, they find acceptance, love, and a sense of belonging.

Similarly, as children of God, we may encounter rejection and adversity in the world, but in Him, we find unconditional love and acceptance. The passage from 1 John underscores the depth of God’s love for us, declaring that we are His children, lavished with His love.

John urges us to live in a manner befitting our identity as God’s children, walking in righteousness and rejecting sin. This call to holiness is not a burden but a privilege—a testament to the transformative power of God’s love in our lives. Just as the characters in “The Greatest Showman” are transformed by the love and acceptance they find in the circus community, so too are we transformed by God’s love, becoming more like Him each day.

Let’s delve deeper into the parallels between “The Greatest Showman” and the biblical truths found in 1 John 3:1-7.

In the movie, P.T. Barnum[1], portrayed by Hugh Jackman, is driven by a desire to prove himself and provide for his family. Despite facing ridicule and criticism from society, he dares to dream big and creates a space where individuals from all walks of life can come together and be celebrated for who they are.

Similarly, as children of God, we are called to embrace our identity with boldness and confidence. Regardless of our past failures or present circumstances, we are loved unconditionally by our Heavenly Father. Like P.T. Barnum, who sees the potential and worth in each of his performers, God sees the beauty and value in each of His children.

The characters in “The Greatest Showman” undergo personal transformation as they journey from feeling marginalized and misunderstood to embracing their unique identities and talents. They find belonging and purpose within the circus community, where they are accepted and celebrated for who they are.

Similarly, as believers, we are called to undergo a transformation—a renewing of our minds and hearts as we embrace our identity as children of God. This transformation is made possible by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live lives that reflect the love and character of Christ.

Just as the characters in “The Greatest Showman” find strength and courage in their newfound sense of belonging, so too do we find strength and courage in our identity as children of God. We are no longer slaves to fear or insecurity but are empowered to live boldly and confidently, knowing that we are loved unconditionally by our amazing God.

As we reflect on the themes of identity, acceptance, and transformation found in “The Greatest Showman,” let’s allow them to deepen our understanding of the profound truths contained in 1 John 3:1-7. May we embrace our identity as beloved children of God and live lives that reflect Christ’s love and grace to the world around us.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Our identity as children of God shapes how we view ourselves and interact with others. Let’s embrace the truth of God’s love and live confidently in our identity as His beloved children.

PRAYER
Heavenly God, thank You for adopting us into Your family and loving us abundantly. Help us live righteously and share Your love. Amen.

[1] It’s important to note that the real-life P.T. Barnum was more complex and nuanced than the movie portrays. He was a controversial figure known for his showmanship and promotion of hoaxes, yet he also championed causes such as abolitionism and women’s suffrage. While the movie takes creative liberties, we can still glean valuable insights from its themes of identity, acceptance, and transformation.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.

Devotional

All Ears

3 Comments

Read Matthew 15:21-28

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE

“My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.“ (Proverbs 23:19)

earFamily time has always been important to me. As a child, I grew up in a home where both my parents valued and encouraged family time. One of the ways that we spent time together as a family was at the dinner table.  My mom and/or my dad would cook dinner and we would sit together and eat. Our dinner time was not just about eating; however, it was very much centered on good, ole’ fashioned conversation.

As an adult and a parent, I still hang on to that value. If you ask my wife or my children, they will tell you how important it is to me for us to be spending family time together, including but not limited to the dinner table. And at the dinner table, aside from my egging them all on about how unhealthy their food is (I mean I have to have some fun as a vegan), we spend a lot of time listening to each other. We listen to how each of our days were, we listen to all of the things that excited us, we listen to all of the things that upset us, we listen to each other express ourselves in a variety of ways.

Perhaps what I just wrote above strikes you funny, or perhaps you didn’t pick up on my wording at all, but the key action that ties our time together as a family is listening to each other.  One of the most important, yet most neglected, things in our culture is the art of listening.  In today’s world we are so inundated with our own personal soundtracks, our own agendas, our own judgments, biases and egos to silence ourselves. No one really seems to care to listen anymore. Rather than take the time it requires to listen to what others are saying, to what they are truly expressing, we head off into rash judgments and close the doors to any sort of beneficial dialog.

In Matthew 15, we see Jesus being urged by his disciples to not take the time to listen to the Gentile woman who was begging for Jesus to heal her daughter. They wanted him to send her away, after all, she was bothering them with all her begging. The disciples were not truly listening to her, they weren’t compassionately putting themselves in her shoes. In some ways, even Jesus didn’t truly listen to her at first, as evidenced when, in essence, he told her that it wouldn’t be right for him to heal her daughter since she was a Gentile. Yet, in the end, Jesus did listen and, in her expression, Jesus saw her heart and her faith. Rather than pushing her away, rather than silencing her plea for the healing of her daughter, rather than invalidating her need for his help, Jesus listened to her and, following that, a miracle happened.

The point of all of this is that God is calling each of us to speak less and listen more. Whether we need to take the time to listen to others or we need to pause and take the time to truly listen to ourselves, listening is an essential component to the human relationship. It is through the art of listening that relationships grow and prosper. It is through the art of listening that we gain understanding of others and of ourselves. It is through the art of listening that we find ourselves open to the miraculous things that God has in store for us. Be still and learn to listen.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.“ – Bryant H. McGill

PRAYER

Lord, teach me to be a better listener to other as well as to myself. Amen.