We Are Children of God!

Fathers who sip pretend tea, play school alongside stuffed animals or act out storybooks with their toddlers are doing more than establishing their "fun Dad" image. They may be giving kids an academic boost that lasts at least through elementary school, a new study of low-income families suggests.

“It’s important how we play with our kids,” says lead author Gina Cook, a research assistant professor at Utah State University’s department of family, consumer and human development. “It does have long-term outcomes.”

Stimulating play might include a game of “let’s pretend” or talking about how a game or book relates to a child’s own experiences, Cook says.

Relatively little research has looked at the impact of fathers’ contributions to children’s development or academic performance, she and her coauthors write in an all-dad issue of the journal Family Science.

Until the past decade or so, Cook says, fathers simply weren’t home as much as mothers. “In a lot of research, we just go in and talk to and observe the mothers.”

Toddlers whose parents engaged in "stimulating play" like pretend games ended up with better grades by the time they reached fifth grade. This was true for both mothers and fathers -- but only for the fathers who lived with their children. -Today Show, March 9, 2012, Rita Rubin

Speaking of children, did you know that we are the children of God? In 1 John 2:29, for the first time John speaks of Christians as those who are "born" of God. It is an expression that will be used time and again throughout the remainder of this epistle (1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4,18).

It is a figurative expression, emphasizing that the Christian's spiritual life is a result of the redemptive work of God (cf. Colossians 2:12-13; Tit 3:4-7). As a result of this working of God in our lives, we have been "born again", and can therefore be properly called God's "children."

That we can be called "children of God" was amazing to John, and in the Bible (1 John 3:1-3) he desires that we reflect upon a couple of things...such as: the significance of being called the "children of God," and the implications of what it should mean in our lives.

As we take the opportunity to reflect upon such things, we first notice that this passage reminds us of what we "are" as children of God (1 John 3:1).

1. We are recipients of God's love (1 John 3:1a) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" It is through the love of God that we can even become His children (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10; Titus 3:3-7). It is an honor for God to even take notice of us as one of His creatures (cf. Psalm 8:3-4), how much love God must have to allow us to become His children!

2. We are unknown by the world (1 John 3:1b) That is, they do not truly recognize or appreciate what we have become in Christ. They may even deem us as religious fanatics, fools (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9-13).

But this is understandable. For the world did not (and still does not) really know Jesus (John 1:11). And for now, our lives are "hidden" in Jesus (Colossians 3:3-4). Loved and honored by God, unknown and sometimes despised by the world; that is what we are today as the children of God.

But as stated by Paul in Colossians 3:4, when Christ comes we will "appear with Him in glory"! This speaks of our condition in the future, and John also writes of our future condition.

The second thing 1 John 3:1-3 reminds of is what we "shall be" as children of God (1 James 3:2). Exactly what we shall be like has not yet been fully revealed, which may be that due to our finite capability to comprehend. In general terms we have been promised a spiritual body and immortality (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 50-53). But there is something else, hinted at by both Paul and John...

That is we shall be like Jesus! Paul says that we will be like Jesus when He comes. We shall bear the image of the "heavenly Man" (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:49). Our lowly bodies will undergo a wonderful transformation to become like Jesus (Philippians 3:20-21).

Though we cannot fully know what we will be like, it must really be something, for as Christ is now, no man can really see Him and live! (cf. 1 Timothy 6:13-16). This wonderful hope of what we will be some day should encourage us to "stand fast in the Lord" (cf. Philippians 3:20-4:1).

John also has something to say as to how this hope ought to influence how we live, as he describes the third, and final item for our discussion of 1 John 3:1-3. what we "should be" as children of God (1 John 3:3).

We should be motivated by our hope. The hope of which John writes, of course, is the earnest expectation that we will be like Jesus when He comes. Also, we should be diligently involved in purifying ourselves.

The Greek word for "purify" is hagnizo {hag-nid'-zo} which means "to make clean, i.e. (fig.) sanctify." It is closely related to the word for "holiness", which in Greek is hagiasmos, {hag-ee-as-mos'}, meaning "holiness, sanctification." It therefore involves the idea of being "set apart" for a holy purpose, which Christians are taught to pursue (cf. Hebrews 12:14).

We should be properly motivated by the hope that Jesus will "transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21), the true child of God will work toward the purity (holiness) seen in the Lord Himself.

So, how can Christians purify themselves? First and foremost by appropriating the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus! (cf. 1 John 1:9). Only then can we hope to be truly holy and without blemish (cf. Ephesians 5:25-27). But we also have an obligation to remove ourselves from things that would defile us (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1).

In summary, by virtue of God's love for us, and His working in us, we can truly be called the "children of God"! However, to become a child of God, and truly remain such, we must be willing to cooperate with God.

When our faith joins with the working of God, we can become His children! (cf. Colossians 2:12-13; Galatians 3:26-27). As long as our faith remains strong, we have the assurance of receiving the promises God has made (cf. Hebrews 3:12-14; 4:1-2; 10:35-39; Revelation 2:10).

Friends, may the love our heavenly Father has shown in making us His children, serve to motivate us to remain faithful to Him!

Prayer:

Almighty God who art the light of the world, grant us thy heavenly blessing. May the radiance of Your light illumine our hearts and brighten our home with the spirit of faith and love. Let the light of Your Presence guide us, for in Your light do we see light. Bless us also with Your Spirit, that happiness and peace may ever abide in all men. Amen.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Randi