Child of God

Text: 1 John 3:1
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (NRSV)

This is an amazing text.  To think that the creator of all that we know and see, and all that we cannot possibly know, has loved us so much that he has made us his children.  

I understand that all human beings are made in the image of God and worthy of receiving respect and the things of life that sustain us.  And, since God created them as well, they are, in that sense, also children of God.  But this is not what John is saying here.

John is talking about the fact that those who are connected to God through the gift of his grace in Jesus Christ, are heirs of his glory and have taken on the family characteristics that are associated with God.  In other words, one should be able to say about us, “The apple does not fall far from the tree,” when they are referring to God as our father.

This is why John closes this verse with, “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”  Our lives have become so different according to John’s argument, that we no longer are recognized as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we are sons and daughters of God.

Who do you resemble?  Does someone look at you and say, “I don’t understand how you can forgive so easily, that is not the way most people act.”?  Do people question why you are so generous with your time, talents, and treasure?  Do people wonder how you can love someone who everyone else seems to have such a hard time loving?  Do you resemble the God of love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness?  Are you a child of God?

Pray with me:

God of love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus that through him, I am adopted into your family.  Thank you for not only calling me your child but for treating me like your child.  AMEN.