Glorious Children of God
The Scene: A television program shows a parent that was desperate for help. Her pre-teen son was out of control. The solution? Bring in a drill sergeant to get in the young boy’s face and give him a dose of reality. So, here stands a scrawny, blonde headed boy overshadowed by a massive man dressed in camouflage who is nose to nose yelling at him. He screams, “Do you want me to be your daddy for the next 8 years, son?” Sheepishly the boy says, “Yes, sir.” The drill sergeant stops in his tracks. I mean, a dead stop! The sergeant says, “Why do you want me to be your daddy?” The troubled pre-teen, with his voice breaking in emotion, declares, “I have no daddy!” At that moment, the show turns on the dime of compassion and takes a whole new direction. The short 39 second video clip ends with the boy and drill sergeant walking backstage.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgrsLrwld7k&w=336&h=189]
This story is played out over and over again in today’s society. In 39 seconds, we get a glimpse of the human story. None of us had a perfect father and thus we all have/had hurt and pain. We also know people wounded by fatherlessness. We know people who have been rejected, abandoned, orphaned, left alone, etc. Is it possible the someone you know is the person in the mirror? What we see in the “real world” is true in the spiritual world. We are children of God, not because we found God on a day when He was in a good mood, but because Jesus obliterated the power of sin and its power to separate us from God. Sin separated us, so like that pre-teen boy, we said, “I have no daddy!” However, Jesus committed to not leave us as orphans, but in His death, burial and resurrection, the door of reconciliation was opened for all of humanity. We have been given the Holy Spirit who verified we are God’s children. The Spirit of God within us empowers us to call out, “Daddy God. You are my father and I am your child.” Father God sent Holy Spirit to be with us, to teach us all things, to show us the beauty of Jesus and lead us into the deep places of God’s heart. All that the human soul and spirit long for are found in the heart of God. We are called to be glorious sons and daughters of God.
This truth sparkles brightly against the backdrop of Jesus’ prayer found in John 17:22-23, “I have given them (all of humanity) the glory (radiant nature of God) that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” [1]. How does the world know that Jesus was sent by God? When we live in unity. It’s not just a human unity, but a lifestyle that demonstrates we are in alignment with the truth of who we really are….CHILDREN OF GOD!
Often times, in the midst of this life-changing truth, we are overcome by Identity theft or Identity amnesia. We forget who we really are or we allow lies to steal our true identity and we start living to create “a self” that is more culturally acceptable. This must stop. Here are 4 ideas that will help you consistently live as children of God.
1. Live Close to God - Hebrews 10:22, “…let us draw near to God…” 2. Hear God’s heart and truth - Matthew 7:24, “Therefore everyone who HEARS these words of mine….” 3. Stay connected to other christians - Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another….” 4. Demonstrate Love - Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
You are here, to live the brilliant life. It’s only possible when we have a relationship with God, living as children of God.
