You are chosen and loved

Ahead of Father’s Day (21 June), Jim Burns reflects on being part of God’s family.

Fathers' Day is a time to celebrate fathers and other male role models in our lives. Although it can be a difficult day for anyone who may have not had a positive relationship with their own father, we can be grateful for the love that the father figures in our lives have shown us and thank them on this day for how they reflect God’s love for us, his children.

Jesus was reprimanded by the priests and elders when he claimed to be the son of God. Until that point, people had often looked at God as someone who was remote, someone to be feared. Imagine what a welcome shock it would have been when Jesus was then encouraging ordinary people to call God their Father and speak freely with him!

It’s fitting that when Jesus taught his disciples what we now call the Lord’s Prayer, he began it with ‘our Father in Heaven’ (Matthew 6:9). Each time we pray that, we affirm our belief in God, our Father.

John 1:12 and 13 tell us: ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’

Jesus’ resurrection was proof that Jesus was who he claimed to be: God’s son. His sacrifice meant that our sins are forgiven and we are adopted into God’s family, as full sons and daughters. As Ephesians 1:5 puts it: ‘Through Jesus Christ he would make us his children – this was his pleasure and purpose’ (Good News Translation).

A key part of this adoption is that we believe Jesus is God’s son, that his death and resurrection allow us to be declared righteous before God. When we pray ‘our Father in Heaven’, we also take a moment to remember that this adoption is all because of God’s love for us, not based on anything we have done. It’s all because of his grace.

Looking back to school days, some of us might have bad memories of team selection, how some of us were last to be picked. God choosing us was nothing like that. In The Message’s paraphrase of Ephesians 1, we read: ‘Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ’ (vv4–6 The Message).

When speaking to a child who has been adopted about how they came to be living with their family, parents often explain that they were chosen. How wonderful that we, too, can thank our heavenly Father that he chose us, for no other reason than he loves us. Stop! Go back and read that sentence again. How awesome to think that God, the Creator of the universe, chose you and me to become his children, because of his love for us.

It sounds like there’s room for a double celebration this Father’s Day! As we are adopted into God’s family, how do we take on and live out this family’s values and behaviours, rooted in God’s unconditional love?

Reflect and respond

• After John the Baptist baptised Jesus, a voice from Heaven said: ‘This is my own dear son, with whom I am pleased’ (Matthew 3:17 Good News Translation). Take a moment to contemplate God’s delight in you. 
• Thank God for the powerful gift of fatherhood. Celebrate the fathers who serve, love, provide, care and protect.
• Pray for anyone who finds Father’s Day difficult.
• Pray that fathers, grandfathers and male role models know they are cherished. Pray they have the
  wisdom, patience and love they need to truly reflect God’s image.