It’s not just a title
Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18
Have you ever thought about this? We pray to God and address Him as our Father or Heavenly Father. It is true. There are many passages that confirm we are children of God when we enter into His salvation through the blood of Jesus. Even Jesus Himself said that when we pray, we should start by saying: Our Father in heaven. It makes sense, because when God created people, He made them in His image and the human race was born from Him.
In today’s reading, the Jews were upset with Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but became even more angry when He referred to God as His Father. They said that made Jesus equal with God. While we know that is true, Jesus is the Son of God and the perfect Lamb, what does that mean for us if we call Him Father. Certainly, we don’t think we are putting ourselves on His level. And for sure, we have been given access to His power through faith, but very few of us know how use to or even think we have the God kind of power.
No, we are not equal to God, and it would be absurd to even pretend to think that. However, we are of His kind, and we are His created family. God created people with the intention of having a family and it is the reason He created us in His image. When He sent Jesus to rescue us, the payment He made was so powerful that He gave us the power to become the children of God according to John 1:12. Now that’s a lot of power.
This is not something we should take lightly and if we could begin to understand the power God gave us to reach this lost and dying world, we would turn this world up side down like the first Christians did. God wants us to know who we are now that we are in Christ Jesus and He wants us to follow the example of the first one born of many brethren, the Lord Jesus!
Today I want to encourage you to consider the position you have been given when you received your salvation in the blood of Jesus. Thank your Father in heaven for His great love with which He loved you and for the price He paid to get you back as His very own. Then consider the part and power He has given you to let others know about His great love. Ask Him how to release that power and how to make a bigger impact on your part of the world. Don’t be a child of God in title only, begin imitating your Father with His great power as a dear child of the King (Ephesians 5:1)
Today’s scripture reading: John 5:16-23
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
The Daily Dose 