One of Them (Bringing Bold Faith to a Broken World)Sample

"CHILD OF GOD"

He opens the front door and immediately hears a familiar scream that sends a good chill through his entire body. He drops to one knee and is attacked by small arms that give big hugs. “Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!” The rest of the words are lost in his neck as the child or children wrap themselves around the one person who is the center of their universe. “Daddy’s home!”

Fathers all over the world hear those words, receive that embrace and no matter what kind of day they’ve had, everything becomes better. As “one of them,” you understand that the most successful tactic of the enemy has been the destruction of the family. There is a poignant pain and undeniable void for most people who grow up without a parent in their life, especially a father.

You may not have a great relationship with your earthly father. You may not have a relationship with your earthly father at all. Or, you may have the greatest relationship with the best earthly father ever. Either way, as “one of them,” you know and acknowledge the blessing it is to be a child of God – to be given the right to be in this very special relationship with God.

What makes it a special relationship? Great question and I’m glad you asked.

It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that right after Jesus was baptized by his cousin John, the Spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove, “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17)

Wow! Do you see what God did? How He identified Jesus? He could have used a big booming, thunderous voice to say; “Behold, the King of kings” or, “Here is the Lord of lords!” or, “Allow me to introduce you to the Messiah you have been waiting for!” Or He could have said, “I present to you, the Savior of the world!”

No. God says, “This is my son.” He says, “My son, whom I love.”

And here is the good news. Are you ready? God loves you too!

Yes! He loves you so much that He gave you the right to become a child of God. To wake up every day with a Daddy’s Home type of joy. As “one of them,” you get to call God, Daddy. The creator of the universe is Daddy. The sovereign ruler of all is your Abba, your Daddy. You are a part of God’s family. As “one of them,” you are a child of God!

You should be excited. You should shout out loud, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Being a child of God is a game-changer, but it also carries an obligation. As “one of them,” you must be willing to live in a way that God can look at you and say, He is “well pleased.” Let’s go!

PRAYER

Daddy, Thank You for an overwhelming love that covers me in every circumstance of my life. Your love provides comfort, peace, and guidance throughout my life. I am grateful that You call me Your child and I can run to You daily in every situation. Thank You for loving me and allowing me to be Your child. In Jesus’s name. Amen!

REFLECT

Listen to the song Good, Good Father and journal how you feel knowing that God is your father.

Change-Reaction Challenge

Your challenge is to start a change reaction by creating a list of five acts you will do this week that will give God a reason to say He is well pleased with you.

Share your list with someone who will hold you accountable to complete all five acts. Feel free to share with the _1ofThem family. Use the hashtags #_1ofThem, #childofGod