This summer I had the opportunity to cross – visit Hawaii – off my bucket list. I was blessed to spend several days in Kona, on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, and several days in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, and praise God, it was so much more than I could have expected. Simply beautiful and extremely peaceful. A paradise on earth.
Though I enjoyed everything about this vacation, these two excursions were at the top of the list – a tour of the Big Island, which gave us the opportunity to meet Henry who opened our eyes and heart to the deeper meaning of Aloha, and the second was a Laua where once again we were made aware of the importance of love and family and history.
The desire of my heart is to share knowledge of God and His Word and Holy Spirit for every Christian has been given a profound and precious spiritual heritage and inheritance chosen for us by our heavenly Father, whose love for us is so great He has forgiven our sin. He has forgiven all the offenses we committed against Him. Yes, He has shown us mercy for we are His people and His inheritance (1 Kings 8:50). I’m sure it’s plain to see where my mind goes when love is the topic.
Because when God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – become permanent members of your life-journey the discoveries they help us to unearth will truly bless your heart. Discoveries you want to share with anyone willing to listen. When my son invited me to join him and my daughter-in-law’s family on this trip to Hawaii, I knew even though my husband had no interest in going, I surely did. However, my one concern was how well I would fit in. Fortunately, I travel well with the Jesus, so I packed away all my concerns and left them behind in Jersey.
After a full day of traveling, early the next day we set off on an eleven-hour tour of the Big Island. Though we had thought the timing of such a lengthy excursion was questionable, we each came to realize how blessed we were for meeting Henry, our tour guide, who assured us he was so much more than that and he was not kidding.
One of the first questions Henry asked, “Do we know the meaning of Aloha?” Well, I spoke up to say I thought Aloha meant both hello and goodbye. He told us it also had a much deeper meaning “Love.” As we spent the day with Henry, what became apparent, that very deep bond to history, to his heritage. Henry made sure to address any question about his nationality by telling us he is a native Hawaiian.
There is much I have discovered since arriving home, but the most revelatory this fundamental truth as Christians we share a common nationality, for we a holy nation set apart and dedicated to the worship of God. We possess a God given identity for we are a chosen race! We are to God a kingdom of royal priests! God’s own purchased and special people, there should be no question, no hesitation in our proclaiming “I am a child of God.”
Knowing God Himself is love, how can we not repeat His Aloha, which overflows with loving-kindness and compassion. A love so great our heavenly Father gave His one and only Son, so whoever chooses to believe in Jesus shall not perish instead they will have eternal life (John 3:16).
Yes, through Jesus, God has set us free from sin and shame and condemnation so we can experience our rightful heritage. He has poured out His love in our hearts through the Spirit of Christ, Holy Spirit, so we can tell for sure we have been fully adopted as His own children. In fact, we’ve been given the right, the privilege to cry out, “Abba, Father,” Galatians 4:5. God has made us heirs. He has given us His Word and His Spirit of Truth to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). So, we can proudly proclaim It is done! The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End has given us a glorious inheritance, a unique and blessed identity for He is our God and we are His sons (Revelation 21:6).
Father, consider our threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand, Father, to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy and precious
Servant Jesus
Acts 4:29