To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. . . .

— John 1:12

Because of Jesus and his finished work, all who believe in him are given “the right to become children of God.” In other words, we can become God’s permanent sons and daughters. Each of us can be a child of the King, with a loving Father and a family to belong to.

The bedrock of my identity is that I have a tender, compassionate, loving heavenly Father whose eyes are always on me. As one of his children, I am engraved on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:16).

I hope this is true for you as well. Each one of us can be a dearly loved child of God. He describes his beloved children as “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

If you are God’s child, you know that the light of his face shines on you, brightening your heart and mind, filling you with the warmth of his love and grace, and giving you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

In the Lord’s faithful care, we know we are loved, “for the Lord takes delight in his people” (Psalm 149:4). “The Lord delights in those who . . . put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11).

The apostle John adds, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). God loves each of us lavishly and generously as a precious son or daughter. Amazing!

Lord, thank you that in Jesus we can become your children. Help us each day to remember who we are and whose we are. Amen.