Simply Because You are My Child, and I am Your Father

March 17

1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on 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.”

As a child, I never stopped to think about everything my parents did for my siblings and me.  I never thought about the fact that there was always food on the table three times every day (even if it was food I didn’t like - but ate it anyway because it beat going hungry).  It never crossed my mind the sacrifices they made for their five kids to have clothes on their backs, shoes on their feet, and all the basic necessities needed to live.  We didn’t have the “latest and greatest” things, but we had what we needed.  My parents sacrificed many things to give their children the best they could.  Why?  Because we were their children - I was their son - and because they loved us and gave what they could.

Although I have childhood memories of thinking (at times) that my parents were the “worst parents ever” and “no other parent would treat their child *this* way,” I understand more fully now as a parent of three grown children that they did what they felt was best because they wanted the best for me.  Parenting has challenges as well as many joys and successes.  There were things I did well, and there were plenty of mistakes I also made along the way.  But, whether it was times of success or mistakes, I loved my kids and did what I thought was best for them…simply because they were my children.

God loves me “simply” because I am His child.  He loves me and lavishes His goodness, grace, and forgiveness on me “simply” because I am His child.  His heart is the truest and perfect display of a Father’s love.  He desires good for me.  He blesses me.  He guides and protects me.  He gives me rules to follow because I am His child, and He wants to see me walking in His ways.  His way leads to life while my way leads to destruction and heartache.  My Father’s heart is full of love and pride when He sees me - “simply” because I am His child.  He is a good, good Father.  I am His beloved and redeemed child.