Daily Devotional

She seemed to come from nowhere, silently gliding into the church aisle. She was maybe 3-4 years old, in her “church clothes” dress, with her long hair cascading down past her shoulders. Delicate looking. She was holding a piece of bagel in her left hand as only a little girl can do – carefully, kind of in front of her; something special.

She approached her father who was sitting on an aisle seat in the auditorium, near the back row. She stopped as she came near to him, he a big man, and just waited. He noticed her, standing there with her bagel, holding it like one would with a little dish with water, careful not to spill anything. But her eyes were fixed on her father.

He leaned down and put his forehead next to hers. He whispered to her as she held this poised position with him. They had a nearly silent conversation, head-to-head, for about a minute. The bagel piece steady. Then he took her into his arms, effortlessly and carefully lifting her into his lap, bagel and all. There she settled back gently against his breast, engulfed by his larger size, completely at rest and in peace. They both looked toward the stage at the service going on, and she began to enjoy her bagel piece, and her father’s closeness and care.

This scene I witnessed recently. I dearly wish I had a video of it. I marveled at his tenderness and love, and at her absolute security and restfulness. She feared not that he might dislodge her bagel from her hand, even when he lifted her.

Why did this little girl have such a place with him? She had it because she was his. His daughter. His flesh and blood. Part of his family. She belonged. But she supplies nothing to him in a material way. She earns no money. She has no goods to bring to the household. In fact, she is entirely a receiver. An absolute dependent. It can only cost him to have her. But it is his delight to claim her and embrace her. What can she do? She can have him. Own him as her father. Respect him. Obey him. Care for him, as he does for her.

There are many ways to think about our relationship with God, but all fall short of the true picture, unless it is of the type I just described between this girl and her father. It is not first a contract thing, nor a servant role. It is not a business. It is not some mere obligation. It is not a test of measuring up to some standard. This little girl had done none of those things. Rather, she was her father’s by birth.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy
has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable
and undefiled and will not fade away,
 reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God
through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time.
I Peter 1:3–5

While our relationship with God has a multitude of Biblical descriptions, they all miss the mark, unless they begin with this one – we have been born again to a living hope! He caused it to be so, as our Father. Our place with Him is permanent. We are born, through faith, in His image. We have His characteristics. We carry His name. It is family, and cannot ever be anything less. It can develop and mature, but it always remains first an unchanging union based on birth. We are God’s children, having been born again through faith in Jesus, His Son.

Our hope is a living hope. It is always relational first. It was His tender mercy which started it. It is imperishable. It lives on. We are His heirs. We will inherit it all, one day. The whole household, the kingdom entire, undefiled. In this we are secure. In this we rejoice, even if storms and problems eventually roll through our world and our relationship (verse 6).

In His great mercy God our Father caused us to be born again to a living hope. No mere contract with clauses and exceptions, nor with some expiration date. It is all officially recorded in the birth register in heaven. No world event of any import, or stock market fluctuation or crash has any impact on it. Ever.

He is our Father. We are called children of God, and such we are, forever (I John 3:1). Jesus said that we must be born again (John 3:3). Then He suffered, died and rose victorious over sin, death and the curse to make it all possible.

See how great a love the Father has for us! Come with your dress and your bagel anytime. There He will incline to you. Love you. And take you into His strong arms. Always and forever.

And they all lived happily ever after!

Read: John 3:1–16, I Peter 1, I John 3, Malachi 4
Sing: I Belong to the King, by Ira R. Smith (J. Lincoln Hall)

Lexham English Bible. (2012). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.