Joel M Bradshaw

1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.–1 John 3

Is everybody God’s child? I don’t think John would argue that. Everybody is indeed God’s creation, but not His child. John was making a contrast with the church and the rest of the world. Only people who know Jesus are considered children of God. And all this is made possible by God’s love to make you His child.

Just take a moment, Christian, and ponder that love. I added emphasis.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he  predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…(Ephesians 1:4-5)

 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God’s love led to you being His child. You have hope where you once had none. How grateful are you?–JMB