In God's Family through Faith

Children of God

Today's lesson focuses our attention once again on this incredible truth: We are God's children. I'm afraid, though, that our minds aren't terribly warmed and awed by this privilege and position given us through faith. So perhaps we need to begin by asking Him to banish that chill and indifference from our hearts.

Our confession of faith in Jesus has brought about our adoption into God's family. As we will note in the following verses, this kinship brings great blessings and responsibilities upon us.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Peace follows God's sons and daughters. They promote peace, they seek peace, they follow after peace, they love peace. Their relationship with the Prince of Peace affects their own relationships with others as well as the relationships others have among themselves.

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). God's children do what is right. They also love others. You can count on it; it's their nature. These character traits make them stand out so that they cannot be overlooked. They don't set out to call attention to themselves, but that is precisely what happens, they are so unique.

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:14,15). God's children are formed, fashioned, and shaped by holiness, not ungodly lusts. No aspect of their lives is untouched by the holiness of their Father. They exhibit and exude purity through and through. They have been sanctified for the Father's use; they bear His name.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17,18). Because of their consecration, God receives His children, recognizing them as His own. Gladly, lovingly, He shoulders the responsibilities of Fatherhood. Loved and accepted, they rest securely and in peace.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Romans 8:16,17). Not only has God adopted us and made us full heirs with Jesus, He has also given us His Spirit to establish and assure us of our kinship with Him! Furthermore, because of our relationship with Him, we know that any suffering with Him and for Him will result in our being glorified with Jesus. Now tell me, what could we possibly suffer that wouldn't be worth that?!

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not" (1 John 3:1). Behold! Consider! Give careful thought! How much the Father must love us to grant us the honor of taking His name. Oh sure, the world won't look on us kindly for it, but what else is new? They didn't look kindly on Him either. Besides, the best is yet to come (1 John 3:2)!