Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 30, 2023)
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows. This Sunday’s music includes two beloved traditional hymns as well as a new arrangement of a third traditional hymn. This Sunday’s message takes a look at what the New Testament tells about being a child of God.
WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME This is the day that the Lord has made:
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Athelston Riley’s “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones.”
1 Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
virtues, archangels, angels' choirs:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2 O higher than the cherubim,
more glorious than the seraphim,
lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of th' eternal Word,
most gracious, magnify the Lord:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
all saints triumphant, raise the song:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,
supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us pray
Silence
Almighty God, the protector of all who put their trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy, so that with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ed Buldoc’s arrangement of Fredrick William Faber’s “There Is a Wideness in God’s Mercy.”
1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God's justice
Which is more than liberty.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.
2 There is welcome for the sinner,
and a promised grace made good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss.
So be merciful, just as our God is merciful—
Be merciful, just as our God is merciful to us.
Let there be wideness in our mercy.
Let there be kindness in our hearts.
Oh, may our lives be merciful.—
3 For the love of God is broader
Than the measures of the mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple,
We would know the living Word;
And our lives would be thanksgiving
In the kindness of the Lord.
So be merciful, just as our God is merciful—
Be merciful, just as our God is merciful to us.
Let there be wideness in our mercy.
Let there be kindness in our hearts.
Oh, may our lives be merciful.—
[Instrumental interlude]
4 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God's justice
Which is more than liberty.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.
So be merciful, just as our God is merciful—
Be merciful, just as our God is merciful to us.
Let there be wideness in our mercy.
Let there be kindness in our hearts.
Oh, may our lives be merciful.—
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Lord, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that, as the Scriptures are read
and your Word proclaimed,
we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
A reading from the Epistles (Romans 8:26–39)
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the first-born among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Lynn Deshazo’s “Ancient Words.”
1 Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart;
Oh, let the ancient words impart.
2 Words of life, words of hope
give us strength, help us cope;
In this world where'er we roam
ancient words will guide us home.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
3 Holy words of our faith
handed down to this age,
Came to us through sacrifice;
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ.
4 Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart;
Oh, let the ancient words impart.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart,
oh let the ancient words impart.
A reading from the Gospels (Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52)
Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?”
“Yes,” they said, “we do.”
Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a home-owner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
While searching for hymns and songs for Sundays at All Hallows, I came across the anthem, “Child of God.” It is written by Mark A. Miller and is published by the Chorister’s Guild. Miller is Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University. The anthem is essentially an affirmation of all people as a child of God whoever they may be.
No matter what people say,
Say or think about me,
I am a child, I am a child of God.
No matter what people say,
Say or think about you,
You are a child, you are a child of God,
No matter what the world says,
Says or thinks about me,
I am a child, I am a child of God.
No matter what the Church says,
Decisions, pronouncements on you,
You are a child, you are a child of God.
And there is nothing and no one
who can separate, they can’t separate
you from the truth that you’re someone.
You are family.
You are meant to be a child, a child of God.
You are a child, a child of God.
It gave me the idea to examine what the New Testament teaches on the subject of being a child of God and to share what I learned.
In the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is reported to have said that God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called the children of God.
Further on in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is reported to have said—
…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. (Matthew 5: 44-45 GNT)
In the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke Jesus is also reported to have said—
Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6: 35-36 GNT)
In the Gospel of Luke is further recorded Jesus’ reply to a question about the resurrection.
“Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20: 34-36 NLT)
In the Gospel of John, we find a passage which has long informed the Christian understanding of who is a child of God:
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1: 10-13 NLT)
In Paul’s letters, we find several more passages which have also informed this understanding.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14 NLT)
…you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8: 15-17 NT)
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NLT)
… when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (Galatians 4: 4-7 NLT)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. (Ephesians 5: 1-2 NLT)
Other key passages are found in the First letter of John.
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. (1 John 3: 1 NLT)
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. (1 John 3: 9 NLT)
Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. (1 John 3: 10 NLT)
…let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. (1 John 3: 18-20 NLT)
The members of the human race may also be deduced to be the “children of God” from passages of Scripture which do not specifically refer to them by that term.
Almighty God, the protector of all who put their trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy, so that with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ed Buldoc’s arrangement of Fredrick William Faber’s “There Is a Wideness in God’s Mercy.”
1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God's justice
Which is more than liberty.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.
2 There is welcome for the sinner,
and a promised grace made good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss.
So be merciful, just as our God is merciful—
Be merciful, just as our God is merciful to us.
Let there be wideness in our mercy.
Let there be kindness in our hearts.
Oh, may our lives be merciful.—
3 For the love of God is broader
Than the measures of the mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple,
We would know the living Word;
And our lives would be thanksgiving
In the kindness of the Lord.
So be merciful, just as our God is merciful—
Be merciful, just as our God is merciful to us.
Let there be wideness in our mercy.
Let there be kindness in our hearts.
Oh, may our lives be merciful.—
[Instrumental interlude]
4 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God's justice
Which is more than liberty.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.
So be merciful, just as our God is merciful—
Be merciful, just as our God is merciful to us.
Let there be wideness in our mercy.
Let there be kindness in our hearts.
Oh, may our lives be merciful.—
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Lord, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that, as the Scriptures are read
and your Word proclaimed,
we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
A reading from the Epistles (Romans 8:26–39)
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the first-born among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Lynn Deshazo’s “Ancient Words.”
1 Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart;
Oh, let the ancient words impart.
2 Words of life, words of hope
give us strength, help us cope;
In this world where'er we roam
ancient words will guide us home.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
3 Holy words of our faith
handed down to this age,
Came to us through sacrifice;
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ.
4 Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart;
Oh, let the ancient words impart.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart,
oh let the ancient words impart.
A reading from the Gospels (Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52)
Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?”
“Yes,” they said, “we do.”
Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a home-owner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Children of God
While searching for hymns and songs for Sundays at All Hallows, I came across the anthem, “Child of God.” It is written by Mark A. Miller and is published by the Chorister’s Guild. Miller is Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University. The anthem is essentially an affirmation of all people as a child of God whoever they may be.
No matter what people say,
Say or think about me,
I am a child, I am a child of God.
No matter what people say,
Say or think about you,
You are a child, you are a child of God,
No matter what the world says,
Says or thinks about me,
I am a child, I am a child of God.
No matter what the Church says,
Decisions, pronouncements on you,
You are a child, you are a child of God.
And there is nothing and no one
who can separate, they can’t separate
you from the truth that you’re someone.
You are family.
You are meant to be a child, a child of God.
You are a child, a child of God.
It gave me the idea to examine what the New Testament teaches on the subject of being a child of God and to share what I learned.
In the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is reported to have said that God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called the children of God.
Further on in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is reported to have said—
…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. (Matthew 5: 44-45 GNT)
In the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke Jesus is also reported to have said—
Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6: 35-36 GNT)
In the Gospel of Luke is further recorded Jesus’ reply to a question about the resurrection.
“Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20: 34-36 NLT)
In the Gospel of John, we find a passage which has long informed the Christian understanding of who is a child of God:
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1: 10-13 NLT)
In Paul’s letters, we find several more passages which have also informed this understanding.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14 NLT)
…you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8: 15-17 NT)
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NLT)
… when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (Galatians 4: 4-7 NLT)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. (Ephesians 5: 1-2 NLT)
Other key passages are found in the First letter of John.
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. (1 John 3: 1 NLT)
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. (1 John 3: 9 NLT)
Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. (1 John 3: 10 NLT)
…let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. (1 John 3: 18-20 NLT)
The members of the human race may also be deduced to be the “children of God” from passages of Scripture which do not specifically refer to them by that term.
Whether we interpret the Genesis account of creation in the Old Testament literally or figuratively, it recognizes God to be the progenitor of humankind. God caused the human race to exist and therefore its members may be spoken of as God’s children as they are in a sense God’s progeny. While the Book of Genesis is not found in the New Testament, it has bearing upon a New Testament understanding of being a child of God. For Jesus and the apostles, it was the Bible and informed what they believed and taught.
Jesus taught his disciples to address God as “Abba,” an Aramaic word for “Father,” when they prayed. Jesus also compared God’s kindness and generosity with an earthly father’s kindness and generosity, noting that if we who are evil are kind and generous to our children, how kinder and more generous is God to us, God being the essence of goodness. It can be deduced from what Jesus said that humankind has a parent-child relationship with God. God is the parent, and we are the children.
As can be seen being a child of God is spoken of in the New Testament in several different ways. In the sense of having God as a Father and a creator—however we may envision the process of creation—all people are children of God. In sense of our relationship with God, that of a child with a parent, all people are also children of God.
We may be a rebellious child but nonetheless we are God’s child. The prodigal son of Jesus’ parable was a rebellious child who demanded his share of the inheritance from his father while he father was still alive and then squandered it on riotous living, on prostitutes and wine. Yet his father did not cease from loving him and eagerly awaited his return home. Like the prodigal son’s father, God does not cease from loving his rebellious children even though his heart may be grieved by their rebelliousness.
Being a child of God is also spoken of in the New Testament in a spiritual sense. As we have seen, Jesus taught that we show that we are children of God by our actions; We imitate God as a children imitate their parent. We display those qualities of character that God displays.
Jesus also told his disciples that those who did God’s will were his mother, brothers, and sisters. We can do God’s will only if God enables us to do his will. God is at work in us, giving us the will and the power to do what pleases him.
Being a child of God is further spoken of in the New Testament in the sense of having experienced spiritual rebirth, of having received the Holy Spirit, of being led by the Holy Spirit, of having faith in Jesus Christ, of living righteously and loving other believers, as well as in the sense of imitating God and following Jesus’ example. It must be borne in mind all these things come about because God is working in us. While theologians argue about the order in which these things occur, I believe that I would not be wrong in saying that they agree living righteously and loving other believers does not happen first.
Only God can plumb the depths of the human heart and know and understand someone’s innermost thoughts and desires. For this reason, it is best to charitably assume that God’s grace is working in the lives of all the people whom we know and those whom we do not know. God has more than enough grace for everybody.
We can learn a lesson from last Sunday’s gospel, the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds and not be too eager to uproot what we believe to be weeds since we not only may harm the wheat growing nearby but also mistakenly uproot a young wheat plant thinking it is a weed.
This includes not being too hasty to dismiss someone as spiritually being a child of God. Rather, we should give them the benefit of the doubt and believe good things about them, rather than bad things, when we have the possibility of doing either.
Jesus taught his disciples to address God as “Abba,” an Aramaic word for “Father,” when they prayed. Jesus also compared God’s kindness and generosity with an earthly father’s kindness and generosity, noting that if we who are evil are kind and generous to our children, how kinder and more generous is God to us, God being the essence of goodness. It can be deduced from what Jesus said that humankind has a parent-child relationship with God. God is the parent, and we are the children.
As can be seen being a child of God is spoken of in the New Testament in several different ways. In the sense of having God as a Father and a creator—however we may envision the process of creation—all people are children of God. In sense of our relationship with God, that of a child with a parent, all people are also children of God.
We may be a rebellious child but nonetheless we are God’s child. The prodigal son of Jesus’ parable was a rebellious child who demanded his share of the inheritance from his father while he father was still alive and then squandered it on riotous living, on prostitutes and wine. Yet his father did not cease from loving him and eagerly awaited his return home. Like the prodigal son’s father, God does not cease from loving his rebellious children even though his heart may be grieved by their rebelliousness.
Being a child of God is also spoken of in the New Testament in a spiritual sense. As we have seen, Jesus taught that we show that we are children of God by our actions; We imitate God as a children imitate their parent. We display those qualities of character that God displays.
Jesus also told his disciples that those who did God’s will were his mother, brothers, and sisters. We can do God’s will only if God enables us to do his will. God is at work in us, giving us the will and the power to do what pleases him.
Being a child of God is further spoken of in the New Testament in the sense of having experienced spiritual rebirth, of having received the Holy Spirit, of being led by the Holy Spirit, of having faith in Jesus Christ, of living righteously and loving other believers, as well as in the sense of imitating God and following Jesus’ example. It must be borne in mind all these things come about because God is working in us. While theologians argue about the order in which these things occur, I believe that I would not be wrong in saying that they agree living righteously and loving other believers does not happen first.
Only God can plumb the depths of the human heart and know and understand someone’s innermost thoughts and desires. For this reason, it is best to charitably assume that God’s grace is working in the lives of all the people whom we know and those whom we do not know. God has more than enough grace for everybody.
We can learn a lesson from last Sunday’s gospel, the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds and not be too eager to uproot what we believe to be weeds since we not only may harm the wheat growing nearby but also mistakenly uproot a young wheat plant thinking it is a weed.
This includes not being too hasty to dismiss someone as spiritually being a child of God. Rather, we should give them the benefit of the doubt and believe good things about them, rather than bad things, when we have the possibility of doing either.
God may use us as an instrument of his grace to that person. God may work through us as well as directly in the individual themselves to change their heart and to transform their life. God may also change our heart and transform our lives too.
Silence
WE RESPOND
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Joncas’ sacred song, “All Who Are Led by the Spirit of Jesus.”
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
1 The Spirit of God is no spirit of slav’ry;
the Spirit drives all fear from our hearts;
the Spirit of God shatters all that would bind us.
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
2 The Spirit of God bids us cry, “Abba, Father”;
The Spirit of God makes a home in our hearts;
the Spirit of God helps our spirits bear witness.
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
3 The Spirit of God gives us patience in suff’ring;
the Spirit of God intercedes for our needs;
the Spirit of God is our promise of glory:
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
4 The Spirit of God groans with all creation;
the Spirit of God blesses dreams from the past;
the Spirit of God sets a vision before us:
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
We who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
we who will walk in the footsteps of Christ,
we who will follow where Love may lead us
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God,
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
WE PRAY FOR GOD’S WORLD
Let us pray for all people and for the Church throughout the world.
Particular intentions may be mentioned before this prayer, but it is said without interpolation.
Father, we pray for the universal Church;
that we all may be one in Christ.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and
humbly serve you;
that your Name may be glorified by everyone.
We pray for all Christian pastors;
that they may be faithful ministers of your word and
sacraments.
We pray for the spread of the gospel;
that people everywhere may come to know and love you.
We pray for all who govern and exercise authority in the
nations of the world;
that there may be peace and justice among all.
Give us strength to do your will in all that we undertake;
that we may be blessed in all our works.
Have compassion on those who suffer or are in grief or
trouble;
that they may he delivered from their distress.
We praise you for all your saints who have entered into
joy;
may we also share in your heavenly kingdom.
Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who taught us to pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE
May the Lord bless us and keep us,
May the Lord make his face to shine on us and be gracious to us,
May the Lord look on us with kindness and give us peace. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Frances Ridley Havergal’s “Take My if And Let It Be.”
1 Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
2 Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
3 Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee
4 Take my silver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose
5 Take my will, and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee
Those present may exchange a sign of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Silence
WE RESPOND
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Joncas’ sacred song, “All Who Are Led by the Spirit of Jesus.”
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
1 The Spirit of God is no spirit of slav’ry;
the Spirit drives all fear from our hearts;
the Spirit of God shatters all that would bind us.
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
2 The Spirit of God bids us cry, “Abba, Father”;
The Spirit of God makes a home in our hearts;
the Spirit of God helps our spirits bear witness.
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
3 The Spirit of God gives us patience in suff’ring;
the Spirit of God intercedes for our needs;
the Spirit of God is our promise of glory:
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
all those who walk in the footsteps of Christ,
all those who follow where Love will lead them
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
4 The Spirit of God groans with all creation;
the Spirit of God blesses dreams from the past;
the Spirit of God sets a vision before us:
The Spirit of God makes us children of God.
We who are led by the Spirit of Jesus,
we who will walk in the footsteps of Christ,
we who will follow where Love may lead us
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God,
are the sons and the daughters, the children of God.
WE PRAY FOR GOD’S WORLD
Let us pray for all people and for the Church throughout the world.
Particular intentions may be mentioned before this prayer, but it is said without interpolation.
Father, we pray for the universal Church;
that we all may be one in Christ.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and
humbly serve you;
that your Name may be glorified by everyone.
We pray for all Christian pastors;
that they may be faithful ministers of your word and
sacraments.
We pray for the spread of the gospel;
that people everywhere may come to know and love you.
We pray for all who govern and exercise authority in the
nations of the world;
that there may be peace and justice among all.
Give us strength to do your will in all that we undertake;
that we may be blessed in all our works.
Have compassion on those who suffer or are in grief or
trouble;
that they may he delivered from their distress.
We praise you for all your saints who have entered into
joy;
may we also share in your heavenly kingdom.
Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who taught us to pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE
May the Lord bless us and keep us,
May the Lord make his face to shine on us and be gracious to us,
May the Lord look on us with kindness and give us peace. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Frances Ridley Havergal’s “Take My if And Let It Be.”
1 Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
2 Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
3 Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee
4 Take my silver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose
5 Take my will, and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee
Those present may exchange a sign of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Comments
Post a Comment