We are called the children of God, and such we are! ∙

We are called the children of God, and such we are! ∙

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. – 1 John 3:1

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

In his book, Longings of the Human Heart, Mike Bickel suggests that there are seven longings of the human heart. He categorizes them like this: The Longing to Be Enjoyed by God, The Longing for Fascination, The Longing for Beauty, The Longing for Greatness, The Longing for Intimacy Without Shame, The Longing to Be Wholehearted, The Longing to Make a Deep and Lasting Impact.

“Not only are our longings universal, but they are also eternal. They are not limited to our relationship with God in this age. God did not intend for our longings to go away after this life. In fact, they and their fulfillment will be even greater in the age to come. In this age, there will be moments when we experience great things in God” (Bickel).

One of the great longings of the human heart is to be wanted. And because of our adoption into the Father’s Forever Family, all children of the King finally belong. It is one of the incredible wonders of our relationship with the Father. We have truly and completely become His children. This is something we could ponder for all eternity and never fully grasp.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

The Greek term translated as “right” is exousia. Exousia can be translated as authority, right, power, honor, or privilege. Although it is available to all, not just anyone has this tremendous privilege. It belongs only to those who have believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him as their Savior and Lord.

When we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, the Spirit of God caused us to be born again. We experience rebirth while alive on earth, but it is ultimately a transaction done in heaven. And the results will last throughout all eternity. We are the Father’s children indeed.

The Father had no one higher to draft the adoption papers. There was no one more elevated to whom He could promise to uphold His part of the agreement. So He swore to Himself. The adoption papers are “drawn up” and “signed” by the Father alone.

Hebrews 6:13 Now, when God made his promise to Abraham since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself.   

REFLECT & PRAY

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Father thank You that we are eternally safe and secure. It is not because we have a firm grip on You. But instead, You have a firm grip on us.

INSIGHT

1 John 3:1 Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called “children of God” – and that is not just what we are called, but what we are (Phillips translation).

Our Father calls us His children and such we are! When we begin to grasp how much our heavenly Father loves us, each and every one of us personally and individually, something extraordinary happens. God is love. When we trust Him, in some mystical, mysterious way, we begin to live in Him. Because God is love, we actually start to live in love. And His love lives in us. It only gets better with time.

Many begin with a sense of fear or dread of the Father. This has a lot to do with our human condition and family circumstances. But it has nothing to do with what the Scriptures actually say. As we understand and experience the love of the Father, our sense of fear and uncertainty gradually diminishes.

Eventually, there will be no fear or trepidation when we contemplate going home to be with the Father. As the love of God increases within our hearts, fear is expelled. It is the natural maturation of every child of the King. As we grow in the love of God, we cease to fear what He will do (Wiersbe). The degree we feel fear is indicative of our lack of maturity.

1 John 4:16-18

 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more mature. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

 18 Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

“The claim here is that love and fear are mutually exclusive . . . They cannot coexist because perfect love ‘drives out fear.’ Robertson calls this phrase a powerful metaphor and notes that this can mean ‘to turn out-of-doors.’ The evil of fear is cast out of those in whom God’s love is being perfected” (Daniel L. Akin). Today we might say that “love runs off fear; it chases it away.”

When we fear the Father, we do not allow Him to love us as He desires. When we allow the Father to love us and experience His love, fear is marvelously transformed into confidence.

Philippians 2:14-16

 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,

 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

 16 Hold firmly to the word of life.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 5-13-2

© Dr. H 2022