Children of God!

Children of God!

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. 1 John 3:1 MSG

We are products of love. Right from the account of creation and man's stay in the Garden of Eden, it has been one great love story. It was love that made God put man at the centre of His creation. It was love that made everything we see today, and put each thing in its rightful place, and man at the top of it all. Even when man sinned and rejected love, love never gave up. Even though man's spiritual and physical location had changed, the basis of love hadn't changed one bit.

With sin came something the law itself couldn't regulate, which is grace. Grace has no legislative concept, as no one can make a rule about it or dispense it in appropriate measure. That's God's prerogative, and he has made in abundantly available in the lives of all who are his children. Grace is made available for all men, but its blessings and benefits are obvious in the lives of all who have surrendered their lives to God. That's why today's extract is addressed to those called 'the children of God'. Those are deep words; not words to be taken lightly.

What does it mean to be called a child of God? It is about ownership, dependence and assignment. It shows who I belong to, where I am from and my line of inheritance. It shows that no matter how old I get, I am still tied to the provision of my father, and can never run out of supply or dependence. That's why no matter how many years I have known, followed or served God, I never graduate from being called a child of God. It shows who I serve; my allegiances and my pursuits. If I belong to God, then it is only fitting that He is the only one I serve and give my best.

Am I indeed a child of God? If I am, i should not be bothered that the world doesn't like me. It cannot like or understand me, as we do not answer to the same owner. The Word and the world are parallel lines, and can never have a mutual agreement. Both have different earthly pursuits and eternal realities. If I will indeed be a child of God, and enjoy the blessings and benefits of that position, I must be fully in God. If I will follow the world's standards, then I cannot truly follow God. The choice has got to be made, and I must live with the eternal  consequences of whatever choice I make. His time of favour is here.