For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 

I read a short essay in a magazine yesterday about a family who bought and restored a house on the coast of Maine. While the article focused primarily on the impressive improvements they had made to the property, one unrelated part of the remodeling story left an immediate impression on me. Right by the front door was a photo of their Japanese ancestors.  Every time they walked in the house, they said they took a moment to recognize and honor their family.  One daughter remarked that she wouldn’t be who (or where) she is today had it not been for her grandparents, and so she feels it is important to remind herself daily of her connection to, and gratitude for, them.

Many chapters in the old testament start out with a long lineage…this guy was the son of this guy, who was the son of this other guy..and on and on. Who you were, in the larger context of your lineage, was extremely important in the bible. “Who’s your daddy?” was a question with major implications and should still be important for us today.

But do we really care about that stuff anymore you may wonder, does it really matter?

Well, let me use the president’s kids, Sasha and Malia, as an example. Without family context, these girls are just two regular, ordinary teens. But imagine for a minute how differently they are treated because of JUST ONE THING, their relationship to the president. These kids are special not because of anything they have done or accomplished on their own in life, but quite simply  because of who their father is.

The verse above in Galatians is just one of many that describes God as our father. Imagine the privilege that comes with that status!  Imagine the comfort and confidence that is ours knowing that this position is not earned and cannot be lost. Imagine the direct access we have to our heavenly father as his own “kids!” Imagine how different the world would be if we treated each other like we would treat the Obama girls if they showed up at our house.

Maybe if we took a moment and reminded ourselves of this holy and precious connection every day we would feel better about ourselves AND treat our brothers and sisters in Christ with more compassion and respect. Maybe if we recognized that we are who we are because of Him our hearts would be filled with a daily dose of gratitude.

“Who’s your daddy?”…it really does matter.

photo credits: www.100thbattalion.org, ftw.usatoday.com, SlideShare