The Children Of God
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” - 1st John 3:1-3
It has been a very inspiring start to 2007! The Portland Church invited us to join them in their 2007 Winter Workshop - “To God Be The Glory.” The teaching, admonishment, and fellowship were deep as we spent time together with disciples from around the world. Chuck Hess and I reconnected with an old friend from Kiev Ukraine - Maxim Potapov. He and his girlfriend (Nataliya Kukoba) lead the Kiev church together there. One thing Maxim spoke to us about was God’s heart to have vision for all the brothers and sisters in our lives. Maxim gave us a great maxim spiritually - “if you have accountability without vision you’ll generate legalism.” He shared Jesus’ example of sending out the 72, (in Luke 10) where Jesus gave his disciples specific direction coupled with a vision and then held them accountable.
Vision is something every parent has for their kids, and God is not an exception. He is the ultimate “Father” and has hopes and dreams for all who are called “children of God.” There are many scriptures that express this part of God - like Jeremiah 29:11-14, where God makes it clear he has a “hope and a future” for anyone who is truly willing to find him. “Truly” meaning that we will find him and his vision for our life when we “seek him with all [our] heart.” The only way to truly know God is to seek him with all our hearts, and seeking him will all our heart means obeying His word and His commands (Psalm 119:1-2). God cannot realize a vision for someone who is putting words in His mouth instead of putting His Word into practice. We all need Godly influence and discipleship in our lives - to help us with this.
This scripture in 1st John points out how incredible it is to be a child of God, and that we will know Christ when he appears and become like him - seeing him (Jesus) as he really is. When what matters to our Father in heaven matters to us - we will live a pure life and a pure vision. It has been inspiring for many of the brothers in “The Band” bible talk to see Alex Avila seek God with all his heart and dreaming for God. Seeing Alex baptized at our special Midweek service was powerful for all of us - and this is the first baptism we’ve ever had while it was hailing! We all need to remember the day our sins were washed away, and that the Father has not forgotten his vision for us.
It was also inspiring to have Steve Johnson and Bob Bertalot at our midweek. Steve encouraged all of us with a powerful message about clinging to God and not to worthless idols - so as to never forfeit the grace that can be ours. (Jonah 2:8) Having Steve preach and Bob pray set the tone for an inspiring time. I have to hand it to Steve, he’s the only guy I know who could have a dream (Nightmare?) about envisioning himself pregnant and then naturally get us all laughing about it. Steve may have started us laughing but his message about grace - that it may be forfeited, insulted (Hebrews 10:29) and changed/twisted (Jude 1:4) - was both sobering and inspiring. How appropriate to couple our vision for 2007 with a mature teaching and admonishment regarding God’s grace - the hope that we have.
When we remember that as repentant, baptized, disciples of Jesus God has “lavished” his love on us, it should motivate us to give our best to our Father. The difference between a visionary and “he who chases fantasies” (Proverbs 12:11) is that a godly visionary remembers the hope they have and why they have it - and that moves them into action. A vision (faith) coupled with deeds - taking our campuses and our cities the message of truth from our Father. To Him Be The Glory!
Jeremy Ciaramella
