Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
By repentance toward God and faith in Christ, the fallen children of humanity may once more become the children of God. Our Savior has opened the way so that the most sinful, needy, oppressed, and despised may become a part of the heavenly family.
Jesus taught us, when we pray, to say, "Our Father." He is eager to welcome us as His children. "We have an Advocate in the heavens, and whoever accepts Him as a personal Savior, is not left an orphan, to bear the burden of his own sins" (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 104). "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:17).
The glory that is waiting for God's children has not yet appeared. It appears when Christ appears. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). "For I reckon," says the apostle, "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).
As we become more and more like Christ by beholding Him spiritually now, so shall we be like Him in glory, for by beholding we become changed (2 Cor. 3:18).
Back in the days of slavery a visitor once watched a group of slaves slouching and shuffling off to their work. One tall, broad-shouldered fellow walked by, head erect, with a steady gait. "How's that?" the visitor asked. "Oh, he's the son of an African king" was the reply. "And he never forgets it." Let s not forget that we are sons and daughters of the King of kings.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee" (Ps. 118:28).
By repentance toward God and faith in Christ, the fallen children of humanity may once more become the children of God. Our Savior has opened the way so that the most sinful, needy, oppressed, and despised may become a part of the heavenly family.
Jesus taught us, when we pray, to say, "Our Father." He is eager to welcome us as His children. "We have an Advocate in the heavens, and whoever accepts Him as a personal Savior, is not left an orphan, to bear the burden of his own sins" (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 104). "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:17).
The glory that is waiting for God's children has not yet appeared. It appears when Christ appears. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). "For I reckon," says the apostle, "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).
As we become more and more like Christ by beholding Him spiritually now, so shall we be like Him in glory, for by beholding we become changed (2 Cor. 3:18).
Back in the days of slavery a visitor once watched a group of slaves slouching and shuffling off to their work. One tall, broad-shouldered fellow walked by, head erect, with a steady gait. "How's that?" the visitor asked. "Oh, he's the son of an African king" was the reply. "And he never forgets it." Let s not forget that we are sons and daughters of the King of kings.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee" (Ps. 118:28).
RSS Feed
