GOD HAS NO GRANDCHILDREN

“To all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”  (John 1:12)

Decades ago a pastoral colleague of mine shared in a sermon, “God has no grandchildren -- only children.” It wasn’t original to him, but it has stuck with me. Faith isn’t passed down like an heirloom; it’s born fresh in every heart by the Spirit.

That’s why watching my sixteen-year-old granddaughter declare her own faith this past Sunday and step into the waters of baptism filled me with such joy. She wasn’t leaning on her grandparents’ faith or her parents’ faith -- she was answering God’s call for herself. Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10 ESV)

Before she was baptized my granddaughter shared her faith journey and concluded, “My worth was no longer determined by how other people saw me, my worth came from who I am as a child of God and from knowing that I am deeply loved by Him… Today I am being baptized to show everyone that I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior because He died on the cross for me.”

One generation telling the next of God’s goodness and love, and each one making their own personal decision to accept the gift and become His child by grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

The gospel moves forward not by inheritance, but by personal faith. God has no grandchildren – but I do! 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6443

OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"  (1 John 3:1 NIV)

To be called a “child of God” is not a title we earn through merit or moral achievement -- it’s a gift of grace. It’s the result of God’s lavish love, poured out through His Son Jesus Christ, who made a way for us to be adopted into His family. John 1:12-13 says, “To all who did receive Him, 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.”

This identity is not symbolic -- it’s spiritual reality. We are not merely followers or servants; we are sons and daughters of the King. That changes everything.

In a world that often leaves us feeling isolated or unseen, God offers belonging. As His children, we are known, loved, and never alone. We are engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16), the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8), and heirs of His promises (Romans 8:17). Being a child of God means we have a place at His table, a voice in His presence, and a purpose in His kingdom.

Children often reflect their parents and as children of God, we are called to reflect His character. That means living lives marked by love, grace, truth, and holiness. It’s not about perfection, but transformation. The Spirit within us shapes us to look more like Jesus, day by day.

Galatians 4:6 reminds us, “And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’” This intimate cry – “Abba” -- is the heartbeat of our identity. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6369

REAL PEOPLE

Jesus said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35 NIV)

Christians in their relationships should be the most human people you will ever see.  This speaks for God in an age of inhumanity and impersonality and facelessness.  When people look at us, their reaction should be, "These are human people" -- human, because we know that we differ from the animal, the plant, and the machine; and that personality is native to what has always been [human].  If they cannot look upon us and say, "They are real people", nothing else is enough. 

Far too often, young people become Christians and then search among the Church's ranks for real people, and have a hard task finding them.  All too often, [Christians] are paper people.  If we do not preach these things, talk about them to each other, and teach them carefully from the pulpit and in the Christian classroom, we cannot expect Christians so to act.  This has always been important, but it is especially so today because we are surrounded by a world in which personality is increasingly eroded.  If we, who have become God's children, do not show Him to be personal in our lives, then in practice we are denying His existence, and He cannot be anything but grieved. 

-- Francis A. Schaeffer in “The God Who Is There”  [1968]

#6207

ABBA, FATHER

The ability of love to speak to the deepest places of our hearts never goes away. Have you ever noticed how people in love sometimes speak to each other in baby talk? It is immensely intimate and private -- and it’s off-putting to a third party. If you do it, I wouldn’t want to hear it. But we do it because it is the tenderest language we know.

Jesus’ prayer life demonstrated this intimacy, because He called God “Abba,” an Aramaic word much like “Dada” or “Momma.” (Jesus spoke in Aramaic, and some portions of the New Testament are written in Aramaic rather than Greek.)  “Abba” was a Jewish child’s first word, because it was so easy to say. Somehow when Jesus was with God, the tender love that an adult offers to a child to give strength is what He received from His Father. It rewired His nervous system.

It does not stop there, for Jesus told His followers that they could have this same experience. This is why Paul wrote that by the Spirit we too can say, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). This is what happens when we are praying in the flow.

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children (Romans 8:16). 

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want to Be”

#6168

TAKING REFUGE IN GOD

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7 NIV)

I had two daughters who loved to swarm me when I came home at night. As I came in the door one evening, my little girls ran to meet me. One grabbed my leg and hugged me with all her might. I snatched the other daughter up in my arms. The one squeezing my leg said, "Now, I've got all of Daddy." The daughter in my arms replied, "Yes, but Daddy has got all of me!"

Perhaps the question we need to continually ask is, "Does God have all of me?"  

-- Dr. Alan Redpath, adapted 

#6114 

CLAIM YOUR INHERITANCE IN CHRIST

“But to all who received [Jesus], who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:12-13 NRSV)

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ -- if, in fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  (Romans 8:14-17 NRSV)

The good news we share with one another is the gospel’s declaration that no matter where we are in life, we are the recipients of God’s limitless grace. We can have peace, joy, assurance, comfort, hope, tranquility, confidence, and companionship with God in Christ and beyond that, life eternal. With a life bank full of such gifts we are indeed rich. And yet, so often I permit myself to slip into poverty thinking and poverty living. I feel anxious, alone, fearful, faithless, without joy, and sometimes without hope. I feel this way because I have forgotten and lost grip on the inheritance that God gives me in Christ anew every morning.

Many of us live in spiritual poverty because we have forgotten who we are as God’s children and who God is as our loving Father. The fact that you are reading these words suggests that you are reaching out even now to claim your full inheritance as a child of God. May God grant grace and wisdom to do so more and more today and every day of your life. Claim your inheritance in Christ and live as God’s beloved child today. 

-- Adapted from Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God”

#6090

THE MYSTERY OF LIFE AND DEATH

EDITOR’S NOTE: This prayerful reflection was first shared at a service that was held for people gathered to mourn the loss of five music students from Indiana University who died in a plane crash on April 20, 2006.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4 NIV)

Oh Dear God, we come to You because we do not know where else to go. We come to You with more questions than affirmations. We want to ask, "Why?", "Why now?" "Why them?"

We can not accept the glib answer that You need them for some angelic choir more than we need them here. It is not so. We can not - we will not believe that it is some direct act of will on Your part that these young persons should die so soon. You would not tease us with promising futures, only to snuff out these lives before any fulfillment of their dreams. We want to quarrel, but must confess that the mystery of life and death is beyond our mortal minds.

But we still come, in spite of questions, in spite of anger, because our pain is such that we need Your love and need Your comfort and need to feel Your presence more than we need answers that will not satisfy. Hold us close to You, close to each other and close to those we have lost.

Even as our own grief seems too much to bear, we remember those for whom these deaths are far more personal. We pray for their families, for those for whom life will be forever changed, where empty chairs and empty rooms and silent instruments will be constant reminders of their loss.

But, we also come to be reminded that we live in the light of Easter. We have proclaimed that Christ is risen, that death has been conquered, that life continues beyond the event we call death and we claim the promises made that in life and in death we belong to You, brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore Your children always.  Amen 

-- Joe G. Emerson, Teaching Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Bloomington, IN

#6042

CHILDLIKE FAITH: RECKLESS JOY

So, exactly what is a “childlike faith?” For starters, it’s something not to be taken lightly. In Matthew 19:14, when the disciples rebuke those who have brought little children to Jesus, what does Jesus say? “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Clearly, Jesus is big on children. He sees something special in them. He defends them… But what is it about children’s approach to faith that’s so engaging? Though Jesus doesn’t get specific about that, the answer is in their approach to life. As children, we are not jaded by the sophistication of the world. We’re real. We’re humble. We’re willing to admit our needs and trust that others can help us. We’re unpretentious and adventurous. We’re lighthearted and imaginative. And we’re fearless, willing to take a risk -- a juvenile version of what the early twentieth-century Bible teacher Oswald Chambers calls “reckless joy.”

And then, of course, we grow up. And what happens? In many cases, we get jaded by the world. Instead of being real, we rationalize behaviors. We learn to put our personal spin on our shortcomings rather than deal with them. We become pretentious. We throw ourselves into all sorts of physical adventure but are cowardly regarding relationships, flitting from one person to the next, lacking the courage to commit.

We hide our needs from others. From God. From ourselves. We play it safe, settling for too little in life. Rather than live by faith, we embrace one of the many forms of legalism, be it a secular or religious version. Rather than try to please God with simple faith, we complicate things by trying to prove to Him how worthy we are by our works. We’re full of fear, but we mask it with everything from busyness to addictions to rationalization, as we desperately seek to convince ourselves that we’re content. In reality, we know little of Chamber’s “reckless joy.” 

-- Bob Welch in “52 Little Lessons from It’s a Wonderful Life”

#6022

GOD’S GRACIOUS ADOPTION

“Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ… and it gave Him great pleasure.”  (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT)

There is something in you that God loves. Not just appreciates but loves. You cause His eyes to widen, His heart to beat faster. He loves you. And He accepts you [in Christ]…

To live as God’s child is to know, at this very instant, that you are loved by your Maker not because you try to please Him and succeed, or fail to please Him and apologize, but because He wants to be your Father. Nothing more. All your efforts to win His affection are unnecessary. (John 1:12) All your fears of losing His affection are needless. (Isaiah 43:1) You can no more make Him want you than you can convince Him to abandon you. The adoption is irreversible. You have a place at His table. 

-- Max Lucado in “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”

#5899

EXPERIENCING GOD’S LOVE

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

It seems we do not often see or sense God’s sovereign love exercised on our behalf. Instead, we see ourselves beset with all kinds of calamities that come rolling in upon us. We see ourselves as the victims of “nature’s cruel fate,” of the injustices of other people, and of the adversities that occur with no rational cause.

It is at times like this that we must take our stand by faith on the assurances of God’s love given to us in the Scriptures. We cannot evade one of the basic principles of the Christian life, “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)  Certainly our faith frequently wavers and, just as we may momentarily question the wisdom of God, we will momentarily question the goodness and love of God. We will be like David when he said, “In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from Your sight!’” (Psalm 31:22)  That is often our initial reaction when adversity strikes us. We feel cut off from God’s face, from His love and tender care.

But we must also learn to say with David, “Yet You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help.” (Psalm 31:22)  God cannot forsake us because we are His children, in blessed union with His Son. We cannot be cut off from His sight. But we can be cut off from the assurance of His love when we allow doubt and unbelief to gain a foothold in our hearts. 

-- Jerry Bridges in “Trusting God”

#5678

THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them… . Peter… addressed the crowd… ‘This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says,   I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”’”  (Excerpts from Acts 2:1-21 NIV)

The permanent, personal presence of the Holy Spirit with us is the unique blessing of the new covenant. The Israelites had seen the Spirit work amongst them from time to time, but even the most famous Israelites had not experienced the Spirit’s presence the same way as we do. Like everything else we must start from the gospel in order to understand the gift of the Spirit. Jesus has given the Spirit equally and fully to all His children….

Pentecost marked the creation of the new people of God. It confirmed the new covenant. From this perspective we gain fresh insight into the ministry of the Spirit. He directs the people’s attention to their covenant Lord. He makes the people into a new tabernacle/temple, God’s dwelling place. Through the Spirit the people are drawn together in unity and they receive gifts necessary for their life together and their role in the world.   

-- Mark Strom in “The Symphony of the Scriptures: Making Sense of the Bible’s Many Themes”

#5613

RECEIVING THE GIFT

Do not hesitate to receive joy from Me, for I bestow it on you abundantly. The more you rest in My Presence, the more freely My blessings flow into you. In the Light of My Love, you are gradually transformed from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) It is through spending time with Me that you realize how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Sometimes the relationship I offer you seems too good to be true. I pour My very life into you, and all you have to do is receive Me. (John 1:12) In a world characterized by working and taking, the admonition to rest and receive seems too easy. There is a close connection between receiving and believing: As you trust Me more and more, you are able to receive Me and My blessings abundantly. Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) 

-- Adapted from “Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence” by Sarah Young 

#5495

ACCEPTING GOD’S GRACE

God saw our entire lives from beginning to end, birth to hearse, and in spite of what He saw, He was still convinced “to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5 NLT)

We can now live “like God’s very own children, adopted into His family -- calling Him ‘Father, dear Father’… And since we are His children, we will share His treasures -- for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too.” (Romans 8:15,17 NLT)

It really is this simple. To accept God’s grace is to accept God’s offer to be adopted into His family.

Your identity is not in your possessions, talents, tattoos, kudos, or accomplishments. Nor are you defined by your divorce, deficiencies, debt, or dumb choices. You are God’s child. You get to call Him “Papa.” You “may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12 NIV) You receive the blessings of His special love (1 John 4:9-11) and provision (Luke 11:11-13). And you will inherit the riches of Christ and reign with Him forever (Romans 8:17). 

-- Max Lucado in “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”

#5462

LIFE'S PURPOSE

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

"What is the purpose of my life?" I've had many meandering conversations with a variety of people over this topic, first to gain insight on how God has led or is leading them to their life purpose, and second to be encouraged by what God is doing in these lives. It's exciting to hear about how people discover their gifts fitting perfectly into some niche of their lives.

What I've discovered in my own reflections and conversation is that the most important thing for me to know about myself is that I'm a child of God. Anything else I discover about myself and my life purpose is secondary to this.

The fact that I'm a child of God means that I'm endowed with a tremendous capacity to love. I may find myself confused because I'm not yet sure which direction my life should go, but wherever I may be, I know that I have a capacity to love others, and that is an unconditional gift I can use anywhere. 

-- Mark Ahn, ChristianityToday.com 

#5437

THE GIFT FOR ALL PEOPLE – Part 1

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23 NLT)

To whom does God offer His gift?  To the brightest?  The most beautiful or the most charming?  No.  His gift is for us all -- beggars and bankers, clergy and clerks, judges and janitors.  All God's children.

And He wants us so badly, He'll take us in any condition -- "as is" reads the tag on our collars.  He's not about to wait for us to reach perfection (He knows we'll never get there!).  Do you think He's waiting for us to overcome all temptations?  Hardly.  When we master the Christian walk?  Far from it.  Remember, Christ died for us when we were still sinners.  His sacrifice, then, was not dependent on our performance.

He wants us now.  And He'll do whatever it takes to bring His children home. Christ's love has no strings, no expectations, no hidden agendas, no secrets.  His love for us is up front and clear.  "I love you," He says.  Even if you let Me down.  I love you in spite of your failures." Why did God choose you?  Why did He choose me?  Honestly. Why?  What do we have that He needs? 

-- Max Lucado in “The Gift for All People”

#5241

GOD’S FAMILY

“But to all who believed [Jesus] and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn -- not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”  (John 1:12-13 NLT) 

God is building a family. A permanent family. Earthly families enjoy short shelf lives. Even those that sidestep divorce are eventually divided by death. God’s family, however, will outlive the universe. “When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan I fall on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth.” (Ephesians 3:14-15 TLB)…

Common belief identifies members of God’s family. And common affection unites them. Paul gives this relationship rule for the church: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (Romans 12:10 NIV)… The church is God’s family.

You didn’t pick me. I didn’t pick you. You may not like me. I may not like you. But since God picked and likes us both, we are family. And we treat each other as friends. 

-- Max Lucado in “Cure for the Common Life”

#5190

GOD’S GREAT DESIRE

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  (Isaiah 41:10,13 NIV)

The story of the Bible isn't primarily about the desire of people to be with God; it's the desire of God to be with people. 

-- John Ortberg in “God Is Closer Than You Think” 

#5164

 

GOD’S FAVORITE NAME

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  (Galatians 4:4-6 NRSV)

Of all His names, Father is God’s favorite. We know He loves this name most because this is the one He used most. While on earth, Jesus called God “Father” over two hundred times. In His first recorded words Jesus explained, “Didn’t you know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). In His final triumphant prayer He proclaims, “Father, I give You My life” (Luke 23:46). In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus repeats this name 156 times. God loves to be called Father. After all, didn’t Jesus teach us to begin our prayer with the phrase, “Our Abba”?

"Abba” was, to Jesus, an everyday word, and remains so to Israel’s children even today. It is an affectionate, family word. The equivalent would be Poppa, Daddy or Dad. It is right for you to call God your Creator; indeed He is. You speak truth when you call Him your Master; indeed He is. It is appropriate for you to call Him your King, Lord and Sovereign God. But if you want to touch His heart, call Him by the name He loves to hear. Call Him “Abba.” Call Him your “Father.” 

-- Max Lucado

#5095

THE REASON FOR OUR CELEBRATIONS

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”  (Galatians 4:4-6 NRSV)

Gracious God, we must acknowledge that 2020 has been a difficult year. It’s been a year of loss for all of us, whether that was a job, a loved one, a relationship, or our sense of peace and security. We thank You for this Christmas season, especially this year. We thank You for the simple beauty of Christmas decorations, for Advent worship and Christmas Carols, for family recipes and time spent with friends, whether virtually or in person. We thank You for the ways You’ve been present with us and You’ve blessed us this past year. But Lord, if we’re honest, this year has been tough.

Lord, we pray that Your Holy Spirit would be at work within us. Help us to focus on the miracle of Jesus’ birth, and remind us daily that this world is not our home. When we feel overwhelmed or worried, we pray that You would quiet our hearts, and fill us with Your peace.

Father God, the reason for our Christmas celebrations is nothing short of miraculous. Thank You for sending Your Son to give us a hope and a future! You are in control, God, Your plans are perfect, and we thank You for watching over us. We offer all of these things in Your Precious Son’s Holy Name. Amen. 

-- Loosely adapted from a prayer by Bethany Pyle

#5000

THE GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2 NLT)

The goal of the Christian life is not knowledge, comprehending a bunch of theology, or memorizing large chunks of the Bible. Following Christ is also not about activity, signing up to serve ceaselessly at church, or tackling a daily “to do” list for God. Christ’s ultimate desire for each of us is to make us like Himself. Once we become God’s children by faith in Christ (John 1:12-13) -- once we receive a brand-new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) -- He wants to utterly transform, from the inside out, the way we think and talk and act. He does this primarily by the truth in His Word, by the power of the Spirit, and with the encouragement of His people. Life is His laboratory for remaking us into the people He originally envisioned, before sin plunged the world into darkness and ruin. Take heart, Christian, Christ is being formed in you! 

-- from “Life Lessons with Max Lucado - Book of Galatians: Free in Christ”

#4855