John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
We were all orphans once, separated and removed from the presence of our Father; but through the cross our identity as a child of God, a co-heir with Christ, was secured. Our Father, before the creation of the world, “predestined us to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5). Yet we still often live like we’re orphans.
Living in Burundi, I would estimate over 20 per cent of the young people I work with are orphans because of the war, disease or poverty. What characterises their lives is fear. Orphans don’t live in peace. They experience crippling loneliness. They lie, cheat, steal and manipulate because of desperate insecurity driving them to provide for and protect themselves. They’re desperate for approval and terrified of failure. They struggle with self-worth, have doubts about their God-given purpose, and feel overlooked, abandoned and rejected.
If we’re honest, we can see some of those characteristics in our own lives as well, as we strive to provide for and protect ourselves. We feel threatened, and get jealous and competitive, comparing ourselves to others because we’re not secure in our God-given purpose. Like the orphan, we can easily fall into addictive behaviour by looking to other things for comfort, such as food, relationships or even ministry – all of them to silence the fear and insecurity for a moment.
We can choose today to receive the love of the Father, and to trust and depend upon him for provision, protection and purpose – or we can choose to remain as orphans, removed from our Father. Why not choose to live in peace, security and grace? Why not receive the lavish love of the Father (1 John 3:1)? And then be generous with all he has provided for you, be assured of his protection, and be free and secure to live out your God-given calling for his glory.
Lord, I choose to live as your child today. Amen!
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