Whose Child Are You?

Whose child are you?

Often people 'place' you by, to whom you belong.  That could be good news, or not.  All the adages such as, "like father, like son", or "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", say a lot without having to say much.

The 'to whom you belong' judgment could be a hard pill to swallow.   If someone has been just and upright and well-known, folks expect the offspring to be of similar caliber; often they are.  Its vastly disappointing when they are not.

On the other hand, should the parent have been an addict or crook of some kind, the populace judges the progeny, "Oh they're likely "a chip off the old block", beware of them.  Never trust the individual as far as you can throw them," further remarking, "Of course, look whose child he/she is!  What do you expect!?"

It will be a tremendous ultimatum for the thus disadvantaged son or daughter of such a nefarious character, to overcome.  They may be no where near what the parent embodies, they may have indeed overcome, yet the stigma sticks to them worse than a burr to a dress hem.  Why?  All because they just so happen to be the child of Mr. or Mrs. Do-No-Good.  A travesty.

It really does put pressure on the offspring though.  If the parent has been extra-ordinarily exemplary in character and conduct, that standard may be a mammoth challenge to live up to.  Better to realize our own overwhelming worth in the eyes of God and live life for Him.

You can probably guess where I'm going with this...those of us who are a child of God have a colossal task to live up to His perfect excellence.  Our Almighty Father is perfect in holiness.  His One and Only Son Jesus imbued those exact attributes to absolute perfection.

In John 1:12 (ESV) He calls those who believe in Jesus, His children,

"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God..."

We are less than perfect children.  However, the children of God have been given the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit's indwelling gives each child of God the dynamic power to choose to behave as those who truly belong to God and live according to God's Word, and who strive to be "holy as God is holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16). 

"God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior..." (Titus 3:4-5 NIV).

In living according to God's Word aided by the Holy Spirit, one is less likely to bring ill-repute to God, Jesus, or any of the other family members of God.  We, children of God, must continually aspire to progress in sanctification. 

John 14:26 (NIV) enlightens us to some more of Jesus' words,

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Yes, God has imputed His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-22) to each of His children; that's His sovereignty.  He did so because of our faith in Him.  Nevertheless, the other side of the coin is mankind's responsibility.  As the whole book of James delineates, this involves pro-active, progressive sanctification that is sorely needed and that brands each child of God as His.  Or not.  As one engages in this aim for perfection:  in thoughts, words, and deeds, our affiliation will be discernible.

"Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 8:48 NIV)

We live this way not out of obligation but out of love, thanksgiving and gratitude to our Father in Heaven and growing our relationship with Him through being hearers and doers of God's Word (James 1:22).

"For Christ's love compels us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV).

"Finally, I pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV).

Let no one wonder Whose child you are.

                                                           ~ERC  May 2019~

Additional Bible Verses to Peruse

Having to do with the Holy Spirit's indwelling:

Acts 2:1-4; Acts 4:31; John 3:5-6; John 14:26*; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Jude 1:20; Romans 8:26*; 1 John 2:20

Having to do with being made righteous by God:

Romans 1:17; 4:13; 10:6; 3:22; 5:17; 4:5; 5:19; 4:11, 22, 23; 5:13; 9:30; James 2:23