A Child of God

In his small letter 1 John, the author writes, “See what love the Father has given us,

that we should be called the children of God and that is what we are.” (1 John 3:1)

John tells us that we are not only called the children of God, but we are his children. Let

that statement sink in for a moment. In the Old Testament, it is the people of Israel who

were called God’s children. But in Jesus Christ, God has extended his family to include

not only the Hebrew people but all people.

It is because God loves us so much that he has adopted us as his children. In the 1st

century, children were often considered burdens, but Jesus declares that all children

have value. Children are the only group that Jesus singles out and instructs his disciples

to welcome.

In these verses, John says God has chosen us, God has adopted us as his children, and

God has set us on a path of transformation so that one day we will be like Jesus. This

status isn’t because of anything we have done. It is because of God’s love.

I confess, I am guilty of using the words ‘children of God’ without considering what it

really means. But let this idea sink deeply into your heart. We are God’s little children. We are his. We belong to him. God holds each of us close to his heart, because

he loves us as only a mother or a father can.

But there is more to this. I have a friend who was adopted as an infant. Later his parents

conceived and had a child of their own. His parents never treated my friend any

differently than they did his brother. They treated both their sons the same. They loved

them and cared for them the same.

As God’s adopted children, we have the same status as his natural child, Jesus. God

shows no distinction. Because of our status as God’s children, we are justified; in other

words, we are deemed to be in right relationship with God. We are deemed blameless,

no matter how we may have sinned, and no matter what guilt we may feel. We also

have the inheritance of brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. That inheritance makes us

like Jesus in the kingdom of God; that inheritance means that death has no dominion

over us; that inheritance is life and life in abundance.

So, let us live as God’s children, honoring God each and every day of our lives.

God bless you.

Pastor Marty