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We Are God's Children
Andrea Lende • June 6, 2021
I John 3:1 and 22
We Are God’s Children
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/We-Are-Gods-Children-e129gqj
I John 3:1 and 22
“See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are!”
“And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.”
My heart skipped a few beats as I read the first verse.
The Lord has been showing me more and more of the hugeness and depth of His love.
Growing my understanding of His love.
Showing me passage after passage about the kind of love He has for us.
So, as I read the first verse, I felt so deeply the meaning of John’s writing.
The significance of God considering us His children is huge.
Generally, royal families do not welcome commoners into their home much less allow them to become a part of their family.
And yet, the God of the universe has called us to be His own.
Jesus called us His brothers and sisters.
In Matthew 12:49-50, Jesus said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!”
I feel undeserving of His open arms as He brings us into the one true royal family!
However, God made it so.
He sent His Son to graft us all to Him.
And only a Father would want to love on His children the way the Lord does.
Our second verse says God gives us whatever we ask.
Just as our earthly fathers want to bless us, so does our heavenly Father.
He only asks that we obey Him, follow His plan, and do what pleases Him.
Sounds a lot like our earthly fathers.
When I was young, my father asked me to obey him, go along with his plan, and do what was right.
Our heavenly Father asks no less and certainly deserves no less.
Today I am so appreciative the Lord calls me His own, loves me, and treats me like His child.
May you find the Lord deeply loves you – more deeply than the earthly love we understand – and that He considers you His child now and forever.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me I am Your child. Thank You for showing me You love me as Your own, and more deeply than I fully understand. Thank You for sending Your Son to make a way for me to be called Yours for eternity. Thank You for granting me more than I could ever dare dream or ask for. You hold me close and restore my spirit as I sit in Your presence. You lead and guide me through this life and love me even when I fail. Thank You for not dwelling on my faults and failures, Lord. Thank You for continuing to lift me up higher and teaching me more of Your ways. I desire to know You more fully because as I know more, my love for You grows deeper. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I take pleasure in teaching you about Me and will continue to show you more of My ways.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and Almighty God.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.