Today, we gather here under the watchful gaze of the Lord, our God, our Father, who exercises His duty of love, care, and guidance upon us, His children, with unfailing consistency. We will delve into this beautiful truth by considering the essence of our relationship with God, juxtaposed against the relationship between an earthly parent and their child.
It is written in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." The role of a parent, earthly and divine, is to guide, to teach, to warn of dangers that lie in wait. Just as a loving parent would never shirk the responsibility of warning their child about a fiery stove or a busy street, so too does our Father in heaven warn us of spiritual dangers.
In Deuteronomy 8:5, it is written: "Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you." Yet this discipline is not borne of spite or cruelty, but of a deep, abiding love that seeks only to protect and preserve. It is the same love that causes a mother to snatch her child away from a speeding car, the same love that compels a father to pull his son back from a precipice. It is a love that is sometimes stern, yet always kind, always seeking the highest good of its recipient.
Consider also Matthew 6:26: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Just as a parent provides food, shelter, and love to their child, so too does our Father provide for us. He provides not only for our physical needs, but also our spiritual and emotional needs, showering us with grace and mercy, guidance and strength, peace and joy.
Yet, it is of great importance to consider who may call themselves children of God. In the book of John 1:12, it is said, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." These are the ones who have repented, surrendered, and remain obedient to the Lord, persistently seeking His presence in their lives. These are the ones who have welcomed the Holy Spirit into their hearts, becoming genuine heirs to His Kingdom.
A good parent would, indeed, care for the neighbor's children, but the depth of that care, its intensity, cannot rival the sacrificial, undying love a parent has for their own child. Similarly, while God's grace does extend to all of humanity, the particular inheritance of His Kingdom is reserved for His repentant, obedient, and devoted children.
In Romans 8:16-17, we read: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ..." This is the confidence we have in Him, that He has given us the Holy Spirit to affirm our status as His children. We are not merely creations, not merely creatures, but children—children of a loving, faithful, caring Father, who is steadfast in His commitment to us.
As we ponder these truths today, let us strive to understand the depth of God's love for us, the extent of His care, and the enormity of His provision. Let us recognize our position as His children and live lives worthy of this magnificent calling. His promises are sure, His warnings are true, and His provisions are unfailing.
May we live as children who reflect the image of our Father, children who heed His warnings, rejoice in His discipline, and depend on His provision. And as His children, may we confidently declare, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6). For we are, indeed, the beloved children of an extraordinary God. Amen.