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
My daughter often reminds me how much she resembles me, not only in her looks, but also in her temperament, attitude, behavior, disposition, and thought pattern. She would often say, “I am my father’s daughter.” When feeling afraid, she would call me so she could feel safe.
My love for my children is sacrificial. Indeed, I would give my life so they can live. Yet, the love of God for His creation is far deeper and more enduring. God’s love is ineffable and divine. His grace is amazing, and His mercy is everlasting.
Devotional writer Donna L. Huisten said it best, “God will not—indeed, based on the integrity of His nature, cannot—forget you.” In Isaiah 49:5, the Lord reminds us, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you” This is reassuring on so many levels. When hardships and trials invade our lives, we can be reassured that God will not forget us. When friends and family forsake us, God will always remember and sustain us because we are His children.
Being a child of God has many benefits. Among those benefits are daily provisions, protection, and eternal salvation. Whenever I am overwhelmed by the issues of life and feel like giving up, I remind myself of the promises of God and His faithfulness so I can be encouraged and comforted for the Christian journey.
God has written His law on the hearts of His children. We are his children by creational design and by spiritual rebirth. Therefore, the apostle Paul reminds us that “nothing can separate from the love of God through Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:32). Consequently, we can come boldly before God’s throne of grace so we can find grace and mercy in our times of need (Hebrews 4:16).
There is an overwhelming sense of peace and joy in knowing that we are God’s children. Ultimately, whatever we go through in this world cannot defeat us or destroy us. Even in death, we have victory because death ushers us in the presence of our heavenly Father eternally.
In today’s text, John affirms God’s extraordinary love for His creation. Jesus embodied the love of God as He offered up himself as the living sacrifice for the salvation of everyone who believes in Him. And “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Humanity can scarcely fully comprehend what it means to be a child of God. Our minds cannot fathom the glory that is reserved for those who have been grafted into the Tree of Life. Indeed, many people take God’s benevolence and His love for granted. They reject His invitation to spend eternity with Him by denying His Son as the Savior of the world.
I am glad God never stops loving me when I do not measure up to His expectations. Because He has given me the right to become His child, I rejoice in hardships, I praise Him in times of persecution, and I press toward the mark in my Christian journey to get my crown no matter how stony the roads of life may become.
No matter what the world may say, you are not an afterthought. God loves you and is invested in your physical and spiritual well-being. You are not alone, or forsaken. You are a child of God created in His divine image. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in and through Christ Jesus for eternal glory.
Questions for Personal Reflection
What does it mean to you to be called a child of God?
What are some of the benefits of being a child of God?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I thank you for being my heavenly Father. Please continue to remind me of your love and your faithfulness when the Lord makes me feel unwanted and unloved.
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