"And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."
The one name God is never called in scripture is “grandfather”. He is the Father of Abraham, and the Father of Isaac, and the Father of Jacob.
Our relationship to God is always first generation… You are not a Christian because your parents are Christians. You cannot inherit salvation from your relatives.
Unfortunately, many approach God that way…Their parents knew Him, therefor they consider Him their “Heavenly Grandpa” – It is a comfortable arrangement since grandparents seldom discipline and are easily manipulated by their grandkids.
However, this is an inaccurate, and dangerous supposition.
God only relates to people on an individual bases. This is made clear in one of the most frightening verses in all of scripture found in Matthew 7 when Jesus looks at some “religious” people and says, “I never knew you”.
If Jesus doesn’t have a personal relationship with you, then He has no relationship with you at all…You must have an individual connection with Him. God does not have distant relatives…no grandchildren, nieces, or nephews… He only has beloved children.
To become His child, you must understand the gospel message. Then you have to agree with the truth of your sinful condition… and finally – (the step that many miss) You must accept redemption by faith and claim God as your Lord and Savior.
These steps make God your Father. And that changes everything.
It alters every aspect of your existence. No longer an orphan, you are now in close connection with your Heavenly Father and you can begin living the life you were created to live.
Stop observing other people’s relationship with God from a distance and trying to live vicariously through them. Accept God’s invitation and live each day connected to Him, enjoying His love and protection as His child.
Only you and God are involved in that transaction, and He has already paid the price for your adoption.
Claim the birthright that was purchased for you on the cross. And with Christs’ righteousness now accredited to you, you can securely walk hand in hand with your Heavenly Father.
“God’s children are God’s children anywhere and everywhere, and shall be even unto the end. Nothing can sever that sacred tie, or divide us from his heart.” — Charles H. Spurgeon
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