We were all created or formed by God. As God’s creation, we fall into many categories. It is a privilege and an honour to be identified with the Most High God. By grace, God sometimes elevates us to some category which we do not deserve. What are some of these categories?
The people of God
As people of God, we trace our roots to one and the same divine ancestry, God our Maker. As people of a common origin, we have a common identity which is God through creation. We are a homogeneous group by natural birth, by adaption or by adoption. It is our primary duty to obey God with reverence.
2 Chronicles 7: 15 says if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Remaining a people of God is not enough but doing his will.
1 Peter 2: 9 says you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Are we true people of God?
The servants of God
Servants work to their master’s command with no right to natural inheritance from the Master. Servants can be dispensed with at any time with no existent rights except permissive privileges. The Master owns their lives with a duty of servants to please the master always. Before Christ, such was our status.
Paul said in Ephesians 6: 5 slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ. He said in Colossians 3: 22 slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.
Paul advised God’s servants in Ephesians 5: 10 try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Doing God’s will is the most pleasing to him. Hebrews 13: 16 says do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Are we pleasing to God as his servants?
The friends of God
Friends are people not of the same biological or family root but bonded by association or belief. So, whilst we all belong to God, we differ in substantial respect. We will become his friends if we strive to know and do God’s will as expected of us.
Jesus said in John 15: 15-16, I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from the Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. Friendship is one of mutual choice between parties to the relationship. Friends must be of the same mind so Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 2: 16… but we have the mind of Christ.
Paul and the people of Corinth had the mind of Christ and so became friends of Christ. So were Abraham, Moses and the disciples. What about us? Are we God’s friends?
The children of God
The title child or children of God are conferred by God’s grace. God’s children are by divine adoption through the blood of Christ Jesus by faith. Ephesians 1: 5 says he destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will. Paul wrote of God’s purpose for our adoption in Galatians 4: 4-5… God sent his Son,… in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
The purpose is for us to seek redemption. God’s children enjoy heavenly privileges of the Father as heirs. Romans 8: 16-17 say… It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Children of God must not be by word alone but by deed in Christ Jesus. Romans 2: 13 says for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Doers of the word are called children of the Most High, Psalms 82: 6. Are we children as the word demands of us?
Who are God’s own?
They are those who listen to, and depend on Christ Jesus. John 1:12-13 to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God. Are we born of the spirit of truth?
God will not forget us if we are born of his spirit in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 49: 15 says can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Even for those who deride him, he does not forget until time is no more.
We must be led by God’s commandments in order to retain our citizenship with God. John 15: 10 says, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandment and abide in his love. Are we doing exactly that? What are we before God?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we acknowledge you as our maker. As your people, humble us in obedience to your purpose for our lives. as you servants, lead us to serve you with delight willingly as duty demands. As your friends, help us to reason with you so we may be guided in righteousness. As your children, help us to abide in you so we may reflect your glory and honour as heirs of the Father and King of glory. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
0 Comments