… for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
– Galatians 3:26 NRSV
I am a child of God through faith. So says the scripture.
Not sure I always believed that, but I do now.
Throughout my 67-plus years on this earth, I have had good times and bad. Blessings and challenges.
The good times, the blessings, I’m convinced are not of my own doing, but of God’s mercy and grace.
The bad times, the challenges, God has been right there with me, seeing me through.
I know this through faith.
Faith sustains me in good times and bad … because I am a child of God.
None of this can be considered earth-shattering revelation.
Believers have known for years. Faithful readers of the Bible have known for years.
I was reminded of this as I read Galatians 3:25-28, the text of this coming Sunday morning’s message, “Children of God,” from Rev. Caroline Noll, our Associate Pastor and Pastor for Children and Families.
And as I pondered this simple yet profound idea, a song came to mind. A favorite, but one I hadn’t heard or thought about for years.
The song – I Am a Friend of God by Israel Houghton – reminds me that I am not only a child of God, but a friend as well.
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
– John 15:15 NRSV
I am a child of God. I am a friend of God. He calls me friend.
And I know this, through faith.
First Reflections 