3:42 – Who Claims You?

#faithbites #faithjourney claims

I was making my coffee at work today and wanted a bit of creamer. Normally, I take it black, like my soul, but today, I wanted something different. As I looked through the fridge, I saw everything was labeled. This creamer belong to that person. That salad belonged to this person. From food to drinks to condiments, everything had a label and that signified ownership.

While a label may tell you who owns that thing, it can also tell you that it’s not yours. That coffee creamer isn’t for me, it’s for soandso’s I better not touch that food or soandso will be mad. This is the dual nature of labels.

If I asked who you are, many would say their name, nationality, or something along those lines. Others may say, I’m a Child of God (or a Baptized Child of God). These are labels.

When you use your label, are you using it to say you belong to someone or are you using it to close yourself off from others? They can’t get near you because you are claimed? How do you use your position as a claimed child of God?

Scripture

• For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. – Galatians 3:26
• See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. – 1 John 3:1
• praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:47

Reflection

If we look in depth at 1 John 3:1, we can see this dual nature of labels. We can pride ourselves on being children of God and that others don’t know us because they don’t know the Father. This can be used to keep others away and not share the love of our Risen Lord. That we are special because the Father loves us and doesn’t love those who don’t know him.

But our challenge is to not use this label to separate us, but rather to help others learn about their Father, so that they in turn can be loves. We want to grow the family of God daily.

Creamer may be used up. Food may be eaten or spoiled. But there is no limit to the number of children God can have. He claims us and has a heart big enough to claim everyone. We should use that label to reach out and share Jesus.

Challenge

Who claims you? Do you use that label to separate or to grow the Kingdom. Find one person to share your journey with. Show how being a child of God has impacted your life.

Prayer

Gracious Lord, thank you for claiming and labeling us as your children. Let us share your love and the benefits of being your child with everyone we meet. Let us not hold onto that label so tight that we push others away. We love you and cherish everything you do for us. In your name, Amen.