“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1
When God made us, it was from the overflow of a profoundly loving heart. He did not create us out of some sense of incompleteness or need. No, He was already perfect and whole, but He desired—just because of measureless love—to create humanity who would be the objects of His holy and tender affection… and in that story of love bring great glory to His name.
One of the most beautiful ways of understanding His heart is to see how tenderly He longed to knit this human race and Himself together as Father and children. Isaiah 63:16 acknowledges this with “…You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer, from of old is Your name.” From the very first, He longed to be “Father” to us.
Errant children that we were, we just couldn’t manage to stay close, though. Like any growing child who distances themselves, knowingly or unknowingly, from their parents, we were forever allowing ourselves to be called away. It was too easy to hear competing voices of the world: our own desires, goals that looked more interesting, passing priorities that stole our hearts’ vision away from the very One Who breathed into us our life.
Jeremiah 3:19 reveals God’s response, His longing after us, as we wandered further and further… “’I said, How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call me “my Father,” and would not turn from following Me.’” …and yet we did turn away—far too quickly and for far too long. He loved us too much to leave us in that state, though.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18) Here, God made a way.
The perfect, only-begotten Son of God, our Jesus, would step into our wayward mess and make a path again for us to come home and be family once more. “…We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Jesus was perfect, without stain of the sin that had so assailed us. Being holy and true, He was the only One worthy to settle the cost of our straying steps. He came to us, that we could be adopted back into a loving Father’s arms.
All that was required of us: to believe in Him and to trustingly accept the gift He freely offered—salvation to all who would have Him… “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12-13
Our hearts cling to the Baby of Bethlehem… so unassuming at birth and yet the very Son of God Who was making a way for us to come home again… home to a Father for Whose love we were always meant.
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“Jesus, The Father’s Only Son” (excerpt)
John Mason Neale 1818-1866
Jesu, the Father’s only Son,
Whose death for all redemption won;
Before all worlds of God most high,
Begotten all ineffably.
The Father’s light and splendor Thou,
Their endless hope to Thee that bow;
Accept the prayers and praise today
That through the world Thy servants pray.
Salvation’s author, call to mind,
How, taking form of humankind,
Born of a virgin undefiled,
Thou in man’s flesh becam’st a child.
Thus testifies the present day,
Through every year in long array,
That Thou, salvation’s source alone,
Proceedest from the Father’s throne.
And we who, by Thy precious blood
From sin redeemed, are marked for God,
On this the day that saw Thy birth,
Sing the new song of ransomed earth.
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-Amy Rutherford, 2023-
