God's Favorite Kid

God's Favorite Kid by David Speer

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1 ESV)

I grew up in a very loving home with parents who were pastors and grandparents on both sides that were church planters.   But somehow growing up, I only received that message of the first part of the verse above.   Be imitators of God.  It didn't take long to realize that I was not up to the task when I tried to live that out from the mud-puddle depth of my own efforts.   I was acting like I didn't have a Heavenly Father, essentially trying to "DIY" it (Do It Yourself).

Christians who live as spiritual orphans (those who "DIY" it) can only live out this verse in their own religious, legalistic effort.   Some of the symptoms that will be experienced by "DIY'ers" include fear, worry, doubt, burnout and feelings of insignificance, among others.   Thankfully God did not design us to live that way.

Recently I looked a little deeper into the word "beloved" or "dearly beloved," as some version say.  I discovered that in the Greek this word could also mean "favorite" (See Strong's g0027).   Have you ever thought of yourself as God's favorite kid?    Me neither!   But what would change in our outlook and daily walk with our Father if we did?

If we were to think of ourselves as God's favorite kid, it wouldn't take long to come to the realization that He is crazy about us and loves to care for us.  King David must have had a similar realization when he penned the words of Psalms 139:17 NLT 'How precious are your thoughts   about me, O God.   They cannot be numbered.' 

However, I think it's difficult for us to think along the same lines as David when we come face to face with the reality of our fallen nature, especially when combined with our American cultural tendency to "DIY" in everything.   But if we look a little earlier in Ephesians 2:8-10, God underscores the fact that we are not a "DIY" project!

What if we were to live from the wellspring of the revelation that we are God's favorite kid?   Fear would be replaced with faith.   Loneliness could be exchanged for His Presence.   Weariness would be traded for rest.   "Just another face in the crowd" would find itself "in Him."

Mourning could be turned into dancing.  Pain would be given purpose.   Doubt could be transformed into obedience.   You get the picture.   Every "promise in the book" takes on new meaning when you read it with a thorough understanding of what it means to be a "beloved" child of God!

Whatever the circumstances may be that you are facing, our prayer is that you would be encouraged and remember that as God's favorite kid, you never face it alone!