A Common Thread

One definition of the little idiom we have chosen to entitle this article is, “an idea or theme that is similar to others.” For example, what main thought does the following list of words bring to mind: father, birth, brother, friend, daughter, son, lover, family? If your answer is relationship, you’re right. Whatever else one might associate with this list, the word relational would have to be at the top.

Being a Christian doesn’t have anything to do with knowing doctrine, the Pharisees were fundamental in the “letter,” but were void of the “Spirit.” Nor is it in being familiar with the scriptures. Satan can quote them all day long. Going to church doesn’t qualify one either. John tells us the devil had his own seat where he regularly sat. And even faithful service will not merit us anything; Jesus says to such people, “I never knew you.”

All the above mentioned are to be commended in a person’s life, if they are a result of and not in order to, become a child of God. If you’re doing the latter to be a member of the family, then you’re putting the cart before the ox. The “Fatherhood of God” only applies to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul makes it crystal clear in his Galatian epistle, “For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” To all such, God has sent His Spirit into our hearts crying, “Abba, Father.” What a blessed, affectionate, and endearing term, “Papa!” Every true child of God should be both comfortable and confident in addressing Him as such. Jesus did!