“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are,” (1 John 3:1 ESV).

The apostle John wrote such tender words: “… that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” We often think and speak of children as being so innocent, so hopeful, so much life ahead of them, so full of giggles and imaginations.

But is that true? Try placing a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies in front of a child and then saying, “Don’t touch them.” That plate of cookies will unleash the drooling desire and the little hand reaching out to grab a cookie and shove it in the mouth. Within that child dwells a self-serving little egomaniac. Perhaps “children” and “innocent” are two words that really do not go together after all.

There’s a sinner in that little child, and there’s a sinful little child in every adult. It’s the sinner in each of us that loves to say, “Mine!” for every matter under the sun, at home or at work. It’s the self-serving ego in each of us that sticks out the bottom lip and pouts when being corrected or not meeting that deadline. It’s the self-centered rascal in each of us that throws an internal temper tantrum when we don’t get our way—in the committee meeting or when the doctor says, “Lose weight and lower your cholesterol.”

Our fallen, sinful state leads us “children of God” to live, think, and act like children—being more childish than childlike.

This is precisely why St. John’s words are both tender and comforting. God the Father has shown His love to us in His only-begotten Son. What sort of love is this? “Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins,” (1 John 4:10b ESV). The only way to rejoice in being “children of God” is not by trumpeting some childlike innocence in us, but by receiving the Son of God, the Child of Mary, in the flesh. Our adoption as God’s children through baptism is a precious, joyous gift.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Gal. 4:4–6).

Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, since You have graciously adopted us as Your children, lead us ever to live in childlike trust in all we think, do, and say; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

In Christ’s service,

Rev. Randy K. Asburry
Second Vice President
Missouri District