Each year my family designs a custom wall calendar, but lately it’s getting a bit crowded. We decorate each month with our favorite photos from the previous year and highlight significant dates. As our family welcomes new spouses and children, we’ve had to squeeze in more photos to make sure every person is included. We now have two sets of shared birthdays, and some holidays are covered up by anniversaries. But instead of detracting from the calendar, all the new members make it even more precious to me.
In God’s kingdom the inclusion of newcomers is always a blessing. The Bible tells us that God delights to “set the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6). His love and protection are communicated in the context of a family, as He’s a “father to the fatherless” and a “defender of widows” (v. 5). His heart is to welcome those who are isolated, ashamed, or accused, causing Him to “lead out the prisoners with singing” (v. 6).
As believers in Jesus, we’ve been adopted into God’s family (Galatians 4:5), and we’re commissioned to share His open invitation with others (2 Corinthians 5:20). Like my family calendar, the more people who accept the invitation into God’s family, the more beautiful it becomes. We don’t have to be concerned about running out of a finite resource—there’s room enough for everyone, and He delights in new additions.