|
 We tend to believe that there is nothing new under the sun. We
have seen all there is to see and, when it comes to Christianity, we
have heard all there is to hear. We are God’s children, we are
beloved, etc., etc., etc. We have heard this tune before and while
we know it is important and should be meaningful, these words often
just wash right over us. We have heard these things so often in
worship, in books, in Bible studies, in Sunday School, that they
have very nearly lost their meaning. And here comes one more passage
from the Bible throwing them at us. But this time it is different.
This time the Scriptures are saying to us, “you think you know what
it means to be God’s child? You think you know what it means to be
beloved? You have no idea!” And this, my friends, is the truth of
the matter.
We hear these words all the time and we know they are important, but
we have no clue what they mean. We have no idea how they will one
day effect us or how they might transform us. Because the truth is
that these words have not yet shaped us. The passage says, “we are
God’s children, what we will be has not yet been revealed.” Right
now, being a child of God is just a word, but one day it will be our
very identity. Our relationship with God will one day become so
powerful that it will shape our very being and then we will see and
we will know and we will feel the real power of God’s claim on us.
Right now our faith hangs on words, words we don’t understand yet
which have become so ubiquitous as to be rendered impotent. But
someday those words will explode inside of us. Someday the Word of
God will take hold of us and we will be revealed as new creations;
as children of God. That will be one great day! [to top of second column] |
Prayer: Holy God, help me to hear your words anew. Remind
me that I am beloved. Remind me that I am your child. Remind me that
I am far from being fully formed. Help me to see that I am not
entirely who I will be and to know that this is good news. I pray in
Jesus’ name.
[Text from file received by Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian
Church]
 |
