“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
1 John 3:1 ESV
Just pause and take in this truth. If you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior then you are a child of God.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12 ESV
The basis for our adoption into the family of God is not our effort or worthiness – but simply our faith (and even that was a gift from God!).
“In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
Ephesians 1:5 ESV
Aside from populating the planet, the main reason for the family is to teach us what it means to be in a relationship with God. If you had an angry or absent father you will struggle to trust and love God as a father. But if you had a present and affectionate father you have a huge head start toward understanding the unconditional, overwhelming nature of God’s love for you.
Listen to how God the Father spoke to God the Son on two different occasions:
“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”
Luke 3:22 (Matt. 17:5)
Now consider the fact that God sees you in Christ. Your position and standing before God has nothing to do with you and everything the do with Jesus, the Beloved. When God looks at you, He sees and says the same thing: “You are my beloved son. You are my beloved daughter. With you I am well pleased.”
Do you sometimes think that God is up there shaking His head at you in disappointment? Do you struggle to believe that God delights in you like a doting father with a newborn son or daughter?
What does a toddler do to earn approval and affection from his parents? Nothing. He simply knows that he has that love and acceptance and lives in joyful, carefree motion.
Jesus not only teaches that we are God’s children, he commands us to become like children if we want to enter the kingdom in the first place.
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3-4 ESV
Did you catch that? The greatest. That’s what the disciples were fighting about – greatness. Status. Importance. Effort. Accomplishment.
Jesus swept all of that away and lifted up a little toddler. “This is what I want you to be like, guys. Stop overthinking everything. Just trust your heavenly Papa. He’s got you.”
Stop making it so complicated. Stop stressing. Learn what it means to rest in the love of your glorious Heavenly Father.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.’”
Isaiah 43:1, 4 ESV