Loved Children

1 John 3:1-2

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is."

We are all children of God, who must receive mercy from our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, our son. Fathers provide for their children, and fathers receive their children in love. The glory of the gospel is that as we receive mercy from God the Father, we become like Him, and we more and more provide His love, discipline and mercy to our own children. We cannot provide this in our own resources, but when we first receive from our Father in heaven, we can then give the right things to our children. We can then receive them with love and mercy.

This table shows all this. Your Father’s mercy is spread open before you, as the Prodigal Son saw his father running toward him, arms open wide to receive Him. Turn your heart to your father. The cost of that mercy was high, and we are to measure the cost of this sacrifice. Receiving sinners in mercy is difficult, taxing, and Jesus did the heavy lifting on the cross. We proclaim His death in this Supper. Return to Your Father and receive His mercy. Then turn to your children or your spouse, to your earthly parents, and extend mercy.

2/12/12