First Lutheran of Blooming Prairie

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God;

and that is what we are.” 

– 1 John 3:1

What associations do you make when you hear the word “children?”  What attributes come to mind? 

When I asked that question in Bible Study on Wednesday morning, I heard the following:  “Dependent.”  “Living in the present moment.”  “Trusting.”  “Accepting.”  “Respectful.”  “Unaware.”  “Doesn’t have all the answers.”  And finally, “We’ve all been there.”

The Old Testament relationship between God and humanity has a predominant metaphor–that of covenant.  A promise between two parties, each with certain expectations to live up to.  The New Testament also has a predominant metaphor for relationship between God and humanity:  that of adoption, kinship, filial love.  As one Bible Study participant remarked this morning, “That’s pretty intimate.”

So it is.

God, our identity as your children is both a comfort and a challenge.  Help us to navigate our way through the mysteries of your love.  Amen.

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