Children of God
Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that you are a child of the King of the Universe? You are royalty! But that also means that we must act like children of the King. We have a high calling. What is that high calling?
Philippians 2:5 tells us, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We are called to be like Christ.
So the logical question is, then, what was Jesus like? The Bible does not tell us much about when Jesus was a child, but it does tell us in Luke 2:52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." So according to this verse, if we are to be like Jesus, we must increase in four things – wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man.
So first of all, what does it mean to increase in wisdom? How do we increase in wisdom? Well, James 1:5 tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you chould ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." True wisdom comes from God. That reminds me of the story of King Solomon. The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 that Solomon asked God for wisdom, and God gave it to him. In fact, Solomon became the wisest man on earth! You see, it is very important for us, especially young people, to continually ask God for wisdom, as daily we are faces with decisions that will affect our lived for either better or worse.
In addition to increasing in wisdom, we are also to increase in stature. This can mean physical stature, but in can also mean spiritual stature, or spiritual growth. In fact, The Bible talks about spiritual babies. In 1 Peter 2:2, God’s Word says, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." When we first become followers of Christ, the Bible says, we are spiritual babies. At that point, we can only handle some of the easier teachings of God’s Word. But as we continue in our Christian experience, we are to begin digging deeper into God’s Word, and we are to grow in Christ. The Apostle Paul once wrote to a group of people who were experiencing spiritual dwarfism. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul wrote, "And i, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal." So according to the Apostle Paul, there should be a point in our Christian lives when can start digging deeper into the Word of God. As 2 Peter 3:18 describes it, we are to "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I once read a story about a farmer named Farmer Jones who said that he was not making progress in his Christian experience, but that he was well established. Whenever someone asked him about his Christian experience, he would give that response. Well, one beautiful spring day, he was hauling logs when his wagon got stuck in some mud. He tried to get the wagon out of the mud, but he couldn’t. Exhausted, he sat on the logs and stared at his wagon. In time, a neighbor came upon the scene. He had asked Farmer Jones about his Christian experience, and he had received the same old response, “I’m not making much progress, but I am well established!” So upon viewing this scene with the wagon stuck in the mud and the farmer sitting atop the logs, the neighbor commented, “Well, brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well established!” We must not be content with just being well established – we must grow in Christ! And we grow in spiritual maturity by studying the Word of God.
Another thing we must do as children of God, if to increase in favor with God. We must do our best to please, honor, and glorify Him. One thing that pleases God is when we live a life of faith. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." It pleases God when we decide to trust Him, to take Him at His word, to believe His promises. Thankfulness is another thing that pleases God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Thankfulness is not a character trait we should just exercise on Thanksgiving. We must be thankful year round for what God has done for us and for what He continues to do for us.
But not only are we to increase in favor with God by pleasing Him, we are to increase in favor with mankind, those around us. Even when Jesus began His ministry, the Bible tells us that Jesus continued to increase in favor with man by looking out for the needs of every individual He came in contact with. The Bible tells us in Matthew 4:23, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." It was by caring for others that Jesus was able to increase in favor with man. By doing things like participating in community service and sending donations to homeless shelters – things that will make a difference in our world – we, like Jesus, can increase in favor with mankind.
You see, as children of God, we know that we have a purpose here on earth – and that is to serve God. When Jesus’ parents sought Him in the temple, He told them, "I must be about My Father's business." (Luke 2:49). This must be our mindset, as well! This world is not our home. We must not lose sight of the plan God has for us; we must not lose sight of the eternal inheritance He has waiting for all those who love Him. The apostle John said, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is." (1 John 3:2). One day, Jesus will appear to take His children to Heaven, and it will be then that He will give us new characters so that we may truly be like Him. But while we are here on earth, we must strive to be as much like Jesus as we possibly can. We cannot do it in our own strength, but God promises to help us. Philippians 1:6 tells us that we can be confident of this very thing, that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
In closing, then, let us not lose sight of the fact that we are children of the King – we are royalty! – we have a home waiting for us in Heaven! Let us therefore act like children of the King; let us be like Jesus in whatever we do.
Philippians 2:5 tells us, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We are called to be like Christ.
So the logical question is, then, what was Jesus like? The Bible does not tell us much about when Jesus was a child, but it does tell us in Luke 2:52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." So according to this verse, if we are to be like Jesus, we must increase in four things – wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man.
So first of all, what does it mean to increase in wisdom? How do we increase in wisdom? Well, James 1:5 tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you chould ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." True wisdom comes from God. That reminds me of the story of King Solomon. The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 that Solomon asked God for wisdom, and God gave it to him. In fact, Solomon became the wisest man on earth! You see, it is very important for us, especially young people, to continually ask God for wisdom, as daily we are faces with decisions that will affect our lived for either better or worse.
In addition to increasing in wisdom, we are also to increase in stature. This can mean physical stature, but in can also mean spiritual stature, or spiritual growth. In fact, The Bible talks about spiritual babies. In 1 Peter 2:2, God’s Word says, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." When we first become followers of Christ, the Bible says, we are spiritual babies. At that point, we can only handle some of the easier teachings of God’s Word. But as we continue in our Christian experience, we are to begin digging deeper into God’s Word, and we are to grow in Christ. The Apostle Paul once wrote to a group of people who were experiencing spiritual dwarfism. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul wrote, "And i, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal." So according to the Apostle Paul, there should be a point in our Christian lives when can start digging deeper into the Word of God. As 2 Peter 3:18 describes it, we are to "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I once read a story about a farmer named Farmer Jones who said that he was not making progress in his Christian experience, but that he was well established. Whenever someone asked him about his Christian experience, he would give that response. Well, one beautiful spring day, he was hauling logs when his wagon got stuck in some mud. He tried to get the wagon out of the mud, but he couldn’t. Exhausted, he sat on the logs and stared at his wagon. In time, a neighbor came upon the scene. He had asked Farmer Jones about his Christian experience, and he had received the same old response, “I’m not making much progress, but I am well established!” So upon viewing this scene with the wagon stuck in the mud and the farmer sitting atop the logs, the neighbor commented, “Well, brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well established!” We must not be content with just being well established – we must grow in Christ! And we grow in spiritual maturity by studying the Word of God.
Another thing we must do as children of God, if to increase in favor with God. We must do our best to please, honor, and glorify Him. One thing that pleases God is when we live a life of faith. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." It pleases God when we decide to trust Him, to take Him at His word, to believe His promises. Thankfulness is another thing that pleases God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Thankfulness is not a character trait we should just exercise on Thanksgiving. We must be thankful year round for what God has done for us and for what He continues to do for us.
But not only are we to increase in favor with God by pleasing Him, we are to increase in favor with mankind, those around us. Even when Jesus began His ministry, the Bible tells us that Jesus continued to increase in favor with man by looking out for the needs of every individual He came in contact with. The Bible tells us in Matthew 4:23, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." It was by caring for others that Jesus was able to increase in favor with man. By doing things like participating in community service and sending donations to homeless shelters – things that will make a difference in our world – we, like Jesus, can increase in favor with mankind.
You see, as children of God, we know that we have a purpose here on earth – and that is to serve God. When Jesus’ parents sought Him in the temple, He told them, "I must be about My Father's business." (Luke 2:49). This must be our mindset, as well! This world is not our home. We must not lose sight of the plan God has for us; we must not lose sight of the eternal inheritance He has waiting for all those who love Him. The apostle John said, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is." (1 John 3:2). One day, Jesus will appear to take His children to Heaven, and it will be then that He will give us new characters so that we may truly be like Him. But while we are here on earth, we must strive to be as much like Jesus as we possibly can. We cannot do it in our own strength, but God promises to help us. Philippians 1:6 tells us that we can be confident of this very thing, that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
In closing, then, let us not lose sight of the fact that we are children of the King – we are royalty! – we have a home waiting for us in Heaven! Let us therefore act like children of the King; let us be like Jesus in whatever we do.
- Ilcias Vargas, Jr. and Joshua Penaranda
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