Thoughts for the Day

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This first letter of John (not to be confused with the Gospel of John) was probably written in Ephesus between 95 and 110 CE. There is no consensus as to whether it was written by the apostle John, and therefore many scholars call him 'John the Evangelist'. The three letters have some wonderfully helpful things to say, especially about relationships. Most of us learn (after our childhood phase of "I want, now....!") that the important things in life are not the acquisition of things, but are the relationships we have with others, and with our loved ones. God has put a desire for relationship with others in each of us, and also a desire for a relationship with Him.

Today with sites like Ancestry we can track down our family tree, discovering second cousins or ancient secrets hidden deep in the past. Our chart can grow to immense proportions, and our pride in our surname become stronger. In the same way John reminds us that we are called the "Children of God" and should be proud of that name. Moreover we are not just called this, we actually are His children. He is no absent parent who never contacts us, but a loving Father who calls us into an intimate relationship with Him.

Family relationships are not easy - there is an apocryphal story in our family that two daughters-in-law fell out over a ring left in a will, and never spoke to each other again - and many families fall out over unimportant things. But God calls us to live a perfect life. Our relationship to God is to be seen in the way we live, and with His help we shall continue to grow into the image of Jesus. There will be setbacks, just as there are in human relationships, but our Father will support us throughout until we are called home.

Father-God,
You called us into a relationship with You,
and we have answered that call.
We are Your children,
and You are our Father.
May we become worthy of Your trust
and seek to grow ever closer to You,
becoming more like the children
You would have us be.
Amen.