Saturday Sermonette - Children of God or Creations of God?

Here I am, on the soapbox again, mincing words. Or maybe mangling them. Splitting hairs. And other overused cliche's.

I hear over and over again that all humans are God's children. Being the argumentative and literal type that I am, I disagree.

The Bible indicates that those who follow God and His righteousness are His children.

We are all His creations and much loved by Him. He calls us into relationship with Him. He wants to be our Father. He would love to adopt every last person on earth into His own family.

But not every person on earth even wants to be in His family. I'd like to point out that God is a gentleman--He will not force Himself into anyone's heart. Check out Revelations 3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me."

Further fuel for my case:

Luke 20:36. Jesus is talking to some Sadducees who are trying to trip Him up. Sadducees didn't believe people went to heaven, and they asked him whose wife a widow be in heaven after she had married one brother after another. Part of Jesus' response was that they (the woman and the brothers) who were worthy (believers in God) would be the children of God.

John 11:52. The high priest had said it was expedient that Jesus should die for the people not just of Israel, but for the children of God scattered abroad.

Romans 9:26. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Galations 3:26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

So, does that mean Christians should get all puffed up because we've been adopted? No. Being Christian doesn't make me one whit better than anyone else. More blessed, maybe. Let me never assume he wouldn't love to adopt one not presently in the family.

How do you become a member of the family? Just ask. Ask Him to come into your life and adopt you. That's all it takes.