Children of God
Scripture Reading — John 1:1-14
To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Theologians use big words and elaborate concepts to explain God and our relationship with him. But the Bible more often uses simple images that are easy to understand. My favorite is that God is our Father and we are his children. It’s that simple.
I have been a father for over twenty years, and I have enjoyed a healthy relationship with my own father. Based on my experience of being both a son and a father, I have a pretty good idea of what a father is supposed to be. God’s revealing himself as our Father is a concept on which I can hang my faith.
Usually a father is someone older, wiser, and stronger. He is someone with a deep interest in your well-being. He cares about you and provides for you. He knows your name. He is interested in the things that interest you. A good father is available, especially when you really need him.
John 1:12 declares that all who believe in Jesus are given the right to become God’s children. Faith in Jesus opens the door of belonging to the family of God.
In a world where it is easy to get lost in the crowd and feel anonymous and insignificant, there is a Father who loves you. There is a Father calling you home. There is a Father who wants you to know that you are his child.
Lord, help us to accept the reality that we are your be-loved children. May we feel your presence today in our everyday lives and be reminded of your fatherly care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Rob Jansons
Rob Jansons is the pastor of New Hope Fellowship in Monroe, Washington, where he has served for almost twenty years. He and his wife, Sue, have been married since 1989 and have three daughters. Rob spends time each year in Calcutta, India, working with a Christian ministry to children living in slums. He enjoys hiking in the Pacific Northwest, camping with his family, reading, writing, and being a pastor.
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