I'm A Child of God!
By George Stroh, Senior Pastor
May 3, 2010
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." (1 John 3:1)
Sometimes when I'm at a restaurant, a ball game, the mall or some other public place where there are lots of strangers, I think about this-- These people don't know that I'm a child of the living God! My heavenly Father is the eternal God, the God of all creation, the God of the Bible, the God who owns everything! He loves me, He has saved me and He has adopted me into His family and I will be His beloved child forever!
Not only am I a child of God, but I'm an heir; "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Galatians 4:7). These strangers have no idea who I am because they don't know my heavenly Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus walked on this earth doing miraculous things, even raising the dead, most people didn't know or care that He was the Son of God. Can you imagine seeing Jesus, maybe even talking with Him and then later learning that you had an encounter with God himself?
Even though the world doesn't yet recognize us as God's children, it is good for us to be reminded. And as children of God, we have been given the awesome privilege and responsibility of making Him known to a world of lost people. Just as we once did, these people need to hear the Gospel, the Good News about forgiveness of sins and salvation provided only through faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul put it this way; Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Someday everyone will know Him; "...so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:10). And it will be revealed that we who have trusted Jesus Christ are children of God, heirs and joint-heirs with Him. Until then, may we, as His children, be faithful ambassadors for Christ, sharing the Good News with anyone and everyone who will listen-- "Be reconciled to God" through faith in Christ Jesus. Maranatha!
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