Eastertide
April 16, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-7

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. –1 John 3:1-3

One of the greatest challenges we face as Christian’s is comprehending and accepting that all people are God’s children. Some may not know it yet. None of us have a perfect understanding of what it means.

Years ago when I went to work for the state we had a merit system and my name was the top name on that system for the county in which I lived and wanted to work. I had interviewed for the job, but not heard anything. In contacting the administrator, I was advised to talk to my state senator about it. Apparently, there was someone with political connections who wanted the job and the powers that be were trying to figure out a way to get around me. I was politically naive at the time, but I went to talk with the senator who I had not met and who was an attorney in the county seat. He greeted me politely and when he heard my name he inquired about who my father was and I told him. He said, “I knew your grandfather, he was one of the finest men I have ever know.” I did not know my grandfather. He died when my dad was ten years old, but I had always heard good things about him. The senator told me he would look into the job situation, I thanked him, and drove the 20 miles back to my family’s farm. When I arrived, my mother said that the administrator of the office in which I had applied to work had called and said I was to start to work the next day. Now I do not believe in political patronage, but I gained a great deal of respect for a grandfather I had never known. I actually think I worked harder to uphold that legacy.

Being the child of God carries its privileges and its responsibilities. A part of that responsibility is accepting all of God’s children as our siblings. If they do not know their Parent God then it is also our responsibility to tell them about God.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for parents who introduced me to you as a baby. Help me introduce you to those who do not yet know of your compassion and your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.