Children Of God

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
Ephesians 2:19 (NKJV) 

We are told that the honours list for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations this month will be more comprehensive than usual. Let me declare a personal interest: I don’t expect to receive a special communication through the Royal Mail offering me any honour. In our society honours are given to the great and the famous. Oh, occasionally there’s a nod to some who have done significant service somewhere in Her Majesty’s realm. But Christians in our society are usually well down the list. 

On the other hand, did you know that we Christians do appear on an honours list? “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him [Christ]. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be…” (1 John 3:1-2). 

There’s no provision in the Queen’s honours list for her to adopt someone into the royal household. That would have to be the highest honour of all. But that’s what God has done. Already. Notice that this has already happened; it says ‘now’. As of now we are considered by God to be of the Blood Royal, through the blood of Jesus. But hang around, there’s more: “…but we know that when He [Christ] is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” What greater honour for puny man than to be made like God! 

And yet there’s still more: “…and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6). 

Now, we are told that we are going to be kings and priests with Christ, to reign with him, but here we are told we are actually priests and kings to God the Father himself. What an honour! 

Already we are known to our God, and already his children. Frankly, I don’t think I need any more honour than that.

Prayer
Most loving Father—Dad! We are so flawed and, well, human, and yet you have honoured us above measure. Help us to live up to your name, as we live in your son daily, visibly to this world, not perfectly but growing in perfection day by day. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen 

Study by John Stettaford