Last night in our Midweek Encounter, we practiced Lectio Divina which is reading a particular Scripture several times to let God impart understanding we wouldn’t glean with just a quick read-through. I loved The Message translation of 1 John 3:1-3: What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it – we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him – and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. Or the same verses in The Passion translation: Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him. Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure.

Today reading from Hearing God, Dallas Willard used a verse from our own book of Nehemiah where the people wept hearing God’s word spoken to them. I loved what he said: We stand within a community of the spoken to.

That’s what joins us. Millennia may separate us but God’s words bind us together in Him. We are a community, the children of God.

In our chapter today, Nehemiah 11, Nehemiah cast lots to determine who (one out of every ten) would live in Jerusalem and who would stay in their own towns, v. 1-2. Remember, Jerusalem has been sacked and rubble remains.

Thinking about our world today, the world of Nehemiah’s day, the world of every age of men, I can’t help but wonder how it all works and how it will all work when Jesus returns. Will there be rubble as there is now in war-torn cities? How many people have no idea really that we are the children of God? How many choose a relationship with Him now in their personal life? How many let God speak to them? All who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure. It’s not that we are pure. It’s that as we focus on Him, we are lifted out of the darkness of this age into the light of Life with God. We’re called children of God…that’s who we really are! We are imperfect, unruly, rebellious and yes…we are God’s children right now and dearly loved. I hope you can grow into that truth because it’s the most wonderful truth that is! It brings light into a world that makes no sense. A post recently on Facebook: Chinese/Russian kids learn how to disassemble an AK in school while we’re teaching ours they can identify as a fruit cocktail. A world of darkness surrounds us. God’s light, His truth saves us. John wrote the Scripture verses cited above. He lived with Jesus for 3 years learning from Him. He experienced living with God. John shared what he learned so we could understand the truth of God. Jesus no longer walks this earth as He did in John’s day, but He speaks to our hearts just as He has throughout all ages of men. Children of God…a community of the spoken to. It’s not exclusive! He’s here. Always.