MANY TITLES

All of us in life assume many titles. Lets' see, for me I am a wife, mom, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, friend, volunteer, soon to be mother in law, veteran, activist, Christian, writer, and on it goes. One of my favorite titles is 'child of God'. We are all His children or at least in the sense He is our creator but not all of us act like very good children. Some times we are bratty and need discipline. Sometimes we act ashamed of our 'daddy'. At times we do not obey and need to go to 'time out'. We do not follow the rules in the Bible that God has given us and can totally go astray. Our earthly parents give us rules to guide us and help raise us to be respectable citizens, or at least that is the way it is supposed to work. Likewise our 'heavenly father' instructs us through his word and those wonderful Ten Commandments. (See Exodus Chapter 20). Our heavenly father is sad when we do not spend time with Him and earthly parents like to occasionally 'hang out' with their children too. Earthly parents like a phone call and God likes us to 'call out' to Him in prayer. Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

 An earthly parent is supposed to show unconditional love and have open arms when a child has problems. Often times, being human, earthly parents fail and do not act Christlike. If only we could all be perfect but only God is perfect. In the Bible the story of the Prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 shows the immense love the earthly father had for his son when he came back home after living a wild life. We should try to emulate this. Better yet be like Christ in all you say and do.

The Bible speaks of us being part of Gods' family or also says sometimes we choose to follow Satan. John 8:44 says "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

1 John 3:1 says "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." John 1:12 says "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. So he is our creator but we need to receive him as our saviour to be his child. Have you received Jesus and can you call him Father or 'daddy'? If not why not stop now and pray and ask Jesus to come in to your heart and truly be His child. Then live for Him and try to be more Christlike in what you say and do.

So what different titles do you hold and which one is most valuable to you?  Perhaps you have some of same ones above and could add others like employee, team member, student and others. If you want the title of God's child just say "Jesus come in to my heart today. Forgive me for my sins and be Lord of my life." Then to know Him better carve out some priority time for Him each day. To know Him better this is crucial.

PRAYER: Father I love all the roles I have in life that you have blessed me with. I need your strength to do each one in a manner that brings glory to you. Help me shine your light in every  place I am.  In Jesus name.Amen!