Children of God

 

One of my favorite writers/pastors is Paul David Tripp.  I love what he says in his book, New Morning Mercies: "It's important to acknowledge that God has not just forgiven you (and that is a wonderful thing), but He has also given you a brand-new identity.  If you're God's child, you are now a son or a daughter of the King of kings and the Lord of lords."  

John says in his gospel, John 1:12-13, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become CHILDREN OF GOD - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."  John also goes on to say in his letter, 1 John 3:1, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called CHILDREN OF GOD!  And that is what we are!"  As Christ followers, we need to who we are in Christ Jesus.  Yes, we are forgiven of sin and free from the penalty and the bondage of sin.  However, we are more than forgiven; we are CHILDREN OF GOD!  When we repent of our sin and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are changed from the inside out.  We are given new life.  We are moved from death to life by Almighty God.  God first loved us!  God so loved us!  Through God's amazing grace found in Christ Jesus, you and I can be CHILDREN OF GOD.

We need to remember this truth each and every day: we are CHILDREN OF GOD, and that is what we are!  Satan is our enemy, and he wants to steal, kill, and destroy us.  He will use anything and everything he can to distract us from the truth of God's Word.  Satan does not want us to know God; Satan does not want us to trust God; Satan does not want us to walk in confidence and hope.  One way, I believe, Satan attacks us is with identity.  If we are not careful, we will use people, places, jobs, and more as our identity.  One thing I have learned in this life is that all of these things will somehow and in some way let us down.  No one is perfect.  No place is perfect.  No job is perfect.  Only God is perfect.  And as Christ followers, God is our Father.  Our Father's love is perfect.  His perfect love casts out all fear.  We need to remind ourselves of these valuable truths each and every day, so that we can walk in confidence and hope!  We don't have to walk in fear or doubt or confusion or dread; we are CHILDREN OF GOD!  We can walk in the confidence that God is our Father who loves us.  We can walk in the hope of Christ Jesus's perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection.  Let's keep reminding each other today and every day as we move forward: we are CHILDREN OF GOD, and that is what we are!!!  That is our identity now and forever!!!