In the Rwandan culture, or dare I say African culture, a child naturally belongs with their parents but is uniquely also raised by the community the family is part of. In most African homes, shared experiences revolve around a neighbor correcting you, as a parent would, if found in mischief. It is assumed that if the tables were turned, the neighbor would also expect the same correction for their children if their children misbehaved in their absence. That is where the African Proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ originates from, I believe.
This style of parenting may not be widely accepted in some other cultures, mainly Western cultures where the approach leans towards being individualistic. There are, however proven benefits that we, of African descent, have learnt to enjoy from being part of a collectivist approach and culture. It is common to have many siblings, cousins, relatives, who are not necessarily related to you by blood, and even neighbors who may show up for you better than your own blood relatives. The same is true with God. Our Father is a relational God and though it is completely upon us to make the decision to accept His call to salvation and reconciliation to Him through His only son Jesus Christ, the call is an open invitation to all that will receive it.
To Be called
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” NKJV
I want to primarily establish one truth, God does not practice favoritism. Every parent that is blessed with multiple children, loves and raises each one according to their special needs, character and behavior. Rarely will you hear a parent say this child is my favorite among all my children. This is not just for the sake of peace and harmony in the home but to also ensure each child feels seen, covered and cared for. It does not remove the fact that some parents may be a little reckless with this wisdom and obviously show favoritism. Israel himself did so in and we saw what it yielded but I beseech you not to treat or interpret God in this carnal manner.
That said, unlike your earthly family which you are born into and find yourself part of, the Kingdom of God is a family you choose to belong to. You make this choice by confessing Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior who died for your sins. After this confession, the spirit, which you can contrast to biological modern day DNA, is imparted unto you by His grace through your faith and you become a son of God This process itself makes you one that is called of God and as you progressively grow in the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of your new nature (DNA) as a spirit primarily, a transition must occur in your life as a regenerate spirit.
This also implies that as salvation is a choice you ought to make, you also own the decision and will to either be a progressive and yielded seeker or a stagnant believer who does not take part in becoming acquainted with his new nature as one born of the spirit, and his new family along with other saints, members of one body. A believer that has entered the realm of the called, is a believer who carries as a responsibility to be a diligent seeker. For example, you have heard of stories of adopted children whose parents are either dead or have abandoned them as children. Some families with the heart for adoption could make a decision to give a certain child a home and a family and they raise this child as their very own.
Occasionally, the adopted individual might desire to inquire about his biological family. They desire to see if they look like dad or mom, if they laugh as loud as their dad or mom, if the twitch in their eye is unique to them or their sister Andrea, for instance – not a real name. Such a desire is not a sign of ungratefulness towards the adoptive family but simply a natural wish to trace back one’s own origins and have some sort of grounding and understanding of where they come from and what they can be associated with by blood and tangible evidence.
The same is likewise true when you become born of the spirit This new nature is imparted in your own spirit and as it comes to you with a fully formed mind and an understanding of your own, it has the power to transform you from the inside out as you allow it. Albeit done slowly, this Spirit you have inherited through Christ, who in simple illustration is the guarantor of our adoption in God’s family, is a Spirit that quickens you as you yield to it. At this stage of salvation, God is not dealing with you as a child that is not His favorite, as many are in the habit of interpreting our theme scripture it is rather a stage during which your will and application to the guiding of your new nature (in your spirit) will become a hindrance or a catalyst to your quickening in matters of the spirit. [Selah]
Child of God, you cannot afford to waste this stage because herein is where you learn to differentiate the voice of your Father from the noise, you learn to distinguish the manner in which those in your new family go about their dealings. This is where you learn where every tool in the house and its function is. This is the important stage through which you become taught of God and thoroughly acquainted with your new nature that no foreign or guest imposter can easily lure you out.
If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”
