Pastor Travis Burkett
Ephesians 1:1-8
Everyone has a biological mother and father. Whether they are in your life or not, we have them. Whether we like it or not, we are their offspring. For some, our parents have chosen us through adoption. Since Adam, we were separated from our loving heavenly Father. However, God desires for all men to be a child of God (Romans 3:23, John 3:16). God has a deep, passionate love for His creation. He sent Jesus to make way for us to receive the gift of salvation. The Bible tells us that when we receive Christ, we are adopted into the family of God through salvation.
Remembering your childhood might bring up great memories or tragic circumstances. I wish everyone had a God-fearing father and mother but sadly, that just isn’t the case. For some, this view of a loving Father is foreign because they didn’t have loving parents. They spent their childhood attempting to gain favor with their parents and seemed to always be left disappointed. Thankfully the Bible is clear that God loves everyone and that means YOU. You don’t have to earn your right to God and He didn’t just choose a few: Acts 2:21, “…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Charles Spurgeon said, “The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved but because he is saved.”
Regardless of your past relationship with your biological parents, the Father of Heaven longs to fill your life with peace and joy. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” When we receive Jesus and believe in who He says He is, we get the privilege to become a child of God! We are adopted into the family of God upon salvation! Wow, nothing can separate us from the love of God. We are God’s family! His Father’s love covers us each and every day.
So whenever we are struck with circumstances that cause us to feel unloved, we can have confidence that we are in the family of God. When we feel defeated, we can remember that He is the victory. When we feel neglected or overlooked, remember that He gives us value and purpose. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
As a child of God, we have a new family. We have each other to build, equip, and encourage! I remember joining my college basketball team. The locker room was full of guys with different backgrounds, likes, and abilities, but we came together in unity for a greater purpose: the team. As a child of God, our greatest purpose is to glorify the Father. So today, may we have confidence and passion that through salvation we are a child of God and we are in the family of God, too.
Comments