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. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3:1-3).

Dr. Larry Crabb tells of a young woman who was a patient in an adolescent addiction rehab center. After several weeks, her parents were invited to a program at the center. The patients sat in the front while the parents sat in a roped off section in the back. Throughout the program, different patients came forward and shared their stories. Trembling, the woman approached the microphone with great fear and shame. She confessed to her parents that she had been a prostitute for the past year and a half.  Her father, got up from his seat, walked down the aisle, embraced her, and said, “When I look at you, I see no prostitute. You are my beautiful daughter.” Through her tears, she looked at him and said, “Daddy, I’ve forgotten the joy of being your little girl.”^[i]

If you are in Christ, when God looks at you, he doesn’t see a failure, he doesn’t see a woman or a man who needs to prove himself. Because you are united to Christ, you are holy, righteous, and blameless. Therefore, live according to who you are. Live like a child of God.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for forgetting who I am in Christ. Forgive me for forgetting your great love for me. Every time I sin, I am living as an orphan rather than Your child. Thank you for your forgiveness that You have given me through Jesus. By Your Spirit, strengthen me to live according to who I am in Christ.