⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to what was his own,^[c] and his own people did not accept him. ¹² But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:10-13

How should I look at myself?

Over the years, when I have been at a conference or retreat and we have to share something about ourselves, I have included little facts like: I am a man, I am a pastor, I am a husband, I am a father, I am a Gator fan ………

I have also often claimed that “I am a child of God.” Because of what Jesus did in coming into the world to save me, and because God’s Spirit stirred within my soul to respond to God’s grace by believing, I am told that I belong to God as one of God’s children. That marks me as being loved, saved, forgiven, and treasured by God.

I like looking at myself like that.

And it makes me ask, how should I look at others? At least 2 billion people on the planet today (that’s the recent count of all of us who claim to be Christians) have the right to claim exactly what I have claimed. They too are children of God. That marks them as being loved, saved, forgiven, and treasured by God.

In a world where we are constantly hearing about how different we all are, there are at least 2 billion folks right here in my family of faith. That’s a hopeful start at bringing us together.

Prayer

Thank you, God, for placing me on the list of Your children. Help me to live up to our family name as I faithfully follow Jesus today, sharing love and concern for all Your children. Amen.