If we are “in Christ,” we are a child of God (Ephesians 1:5-7). Do you realize what a grand privilege that is? To be a child of One who has all power, as well as the Author of eternal life is a privilege that should be sought after above all things.
Question: Do you enjoy taking care of your children? Do you enjoy providing for them? Do you enjoy helping them solve problems in their life? Do you enjoy “showing yourself strong” in their behalf (cf. 2Chronicles 16:9)? Do you still love your children when they “slip-up?” Aren’t you anxious to help your children be all that they can be? And, when you know you can trust your children, doesn’t it please you to be able to give them wider boundaries and more responsibilities? Of course you do! To explain “why” you do is something beyond words, and can only be summerized in the word “love.”
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matt. 7:11).
All God asks in return is for us to be loyal to Him. Do you think that’s asking too much? In 1John 3:18-19, it tells us that if we love in “deed” and “truth” (according to His word – John 17:17), then our hearts are ASSURED before Him. The same verses tell us that love is not just something we “talk” about, love is something we “do.” We demonstrate our love toward God by our obedience to His Will. In 1John 5:14-15, God promises to answer any prayer that is according to His Will, if we keep His commandments.
Remember what God told David after David had sinned with Bathsheba? He said: “It was I who annointed you king … It was I who delivered you from your enemies … It was I who gave you your master’s house … It was I who gave you the house of Israel and Judah … and if that had been too little, I would have given you much more!” (2Sam. 12:7-8). That’s the kind of God we have opportunity to serve, and all He asks in return is that we repent of our sins (Acts 17:30); that we are “baptized into Christ” (Galatians 3:27), where His love is (Rom. 8:39), and be faithful (Rev. 2:10).
–Toby Miller