I’ve spent the majority of my life listening to my peers complain about their parents. On and on the grumbling and complaining goes. Then I came across this little blip on Facebook and I quote,

“My Promise to my children

For as long as I live I will always be your parent first and your friend second. I will stalk you, flip out on you, lecture you, drive you insane, be your worst nightmare and hunt you down like a bloodhound when I have to, because I love you. When you understand that, I will know you have become a responsible adult. You will never find anyone else in your life who loves, prays, cares & worries about you more than I do. If you don’t mutter under your breath “I hate you” at least once in your life, I am not doing my job properly.

Share if you agree”

How many, many times have I felt the tears well up and my chest constrict as I’ve quietly thought…I wish I had parents to complain about. The truth is, I’ve spent much of my life going to church, praying to God and seeking his face, yet my identity in Jesus Christ eluded me. I was living as if I was defeated and my life showed no fruit from the Holy Spirit. When I finally grasped the concept that I had been adopted into God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ my whole life changed. I had a newfound confidence. I discovered I was able to be more patient with others when they mistreated me. I started spending A LOT of time reading my bible and it was GOOD! Now, I want everyone I know to have this same joy.  2 Peter 3:9&version=NIV">2 Peter 3:9 says this, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” I don’t really agree with the little blip I saw on Facebook. Everyone in this world will let you down at some point or another, God will NEVER let you down. God is not like a parent who stalks you, lectures you, or becomes your worst nightmare. God pursues us, but he does it in love. He is slow to anger, rich in love and mercy and an absolutely WONDERFUL FATHER! God promises he will never leave you or forsake you. I like the sound of that.  Have you been adopted into God’s family?  Romans 10:9 declares, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

For great  is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead Psalm 86:13

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23