FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Ephesians 1:2-5; Deuteronomy 32:9; Romans 8:15-17; I Peter 3:8-12; II Chronicles 16:9; I Peter 3:12-13; Malachi 3:7; Ephesians 2:8-10, 18-22

Life’s challenges, responsibilities and goals take on a different perspective when we remember that creation was God’s idea. Genesis tells us of His plans to have a family, and to bless His people He created all the wonders and beauty of nature we see around us. His purpose was to bless, give, care for, supply and nurture mankind, whose response would be love and thanksgiving. All these things were planned long before they came into being, and the Scriptures reveal that God had each of us in His heart and mind’s eye before any of us drew breath or accepted His call.

This limitless God of wisdom, blessings, mercy and grace, stored up all these blessings that He had imagined in His heart so He could pour them out upon those who would respond to His love. People are used to choosing those they would love, in the hope that their love would be returned. But God did the choosing this time, and did so before the foundation of the world, as we read in Ephesians 1:4-5. This choosing was according to His purpose, which was God’s desire for a family. He wanted to be a Father who would love, bless, nurture and care for His children. When we respond in kind, praising and loving Him as He desires and deserves, we have that love-relationship that cannot be destroyed, taken away or extinguished.

We have the Hope, that inheritance we will receive when Jesus Christ returns; the amazing thing is that God’s inheritance is us! Deuteronomy tells us that His portion is His people. We can feel comfortable in saying, “Abba, Father,” or “Oh father, my father!” as Jesus did.

We became God’s children when we believed what was written in Romans 10:9 and 10. At that moment, we received seed, or holy spirit, with which we can be assured that we are His children, and know that when we draw close to God, He draws us close to Him. He is a good God, and His goodness leads us to repentance when we fall. We have a change of heart by freedom of will, and can decide to be holy as God is holy. This is a wonderful and lofty goal, and helps us become more Christ-like, even though we will never be perfect.

As God’s children, we should remember that what He births, He takes care of. He supports all our efforts to carry out His will, and is ever watching all we do — no to punish us when we fall, but to give out His many blessings. We are His responsibility, just as earthly children are the responsibility of the parents. After all, our children certainly did not ask to be born! Further, God tells us that we are not just His children, but His masterpiece. We are accepted in the beloved. And God dwells in us, so we can have a glorious life as we wait for His Son’s return.