You are God's Child
“Do you know why I love you?”
This is a question I used to ask my girls frequently.
One time, when the girls were about two and four years old, they toddled into the room where I was working in their new bathing suits for the summer season. I ‘ooohed’ and ‘aaahed’ at how pretty they looked and how beautiful they were. Our two-year old toddled out of the room back to mom but our four-year old jumped into my lap for some snuggles.
I took the opportunity to ask her the question. “Abby, do you know why I love you?”
The response came back in her sweet little voice, “Because I’m smart and I’m beautiful!” (Haha! Kids!)
I replied, “Those are things I love about you, but why is it that I love you?”
She knew the correct answer because we had done this before. She said, “Because I’m your daughter.”
To which I said, “That’s right. And why is that important?”
She said, “Because that can never change.”
Throughout her lifetime, Abby could make decisions which would affect the harmony of our relationship. She could suffer illness or injury which might impact her beauty, ability, or intelligence. Any number of factors could affect these more superficial aspects of who she is and how God created her.
But nothing can ever change the fact that she is my daughter. And because of that, she knows she will always be accepted, secure and significant in the eyes of her loving dad.
The same is true of us in Christ.
“Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), 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 1:12-13, NIV).
John tells us that He gave us the right to become His children. Other verses confirm that our loving, Heavenly Father takes the initiative to allow us to receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:3-7 and others tell us that God is the One who calls us to life in Christ. We don’t deny that it is His initiative and His gift of faith that gives us the opportunity to respond.
Once a person responds to His gift, the transformation is extremely significant. We go from being enemies of God and children of wrath, to being a child of our loving, Heavenly Father.
I’ve always known God loved me because I was taught it in Sunday school. But I didn’t think he liked me very much. In fact, I pictured God lamenting the fact that He was stuck with me. It was like God had a dilemma… “I am love. Therefore, I have to love Dan, but I really can’t stand him.”
You see, it was my sin, shame, the performance trap of this world, and the lies of the enemy that had me convinced I was unlovable. I didn’t even like myself. How could God like me, much less love me?
But God doesn’t love me because of my performance. He doesn’t love me because of how well I obey or whether I measure up to certain standards. God doesn’t love me for my beauty (thank God!), ability, or intelligence (whew!). He loves me because I am His child through faith in Jesus Christ.
And that can never change.
Therefore, I am accepted, secure and significant in the eyes of my Loving, Heavenly Father, the King of the Universe.
Dear Saints, do you know God’s deep love for you?
In Christ, you are a beloved child of God. Rest in that established truth. And from that place of acceptance, security and significance, go out and represent the family Name.