There's something profound that happens when a child is officially adopted into a family. Legal documents are signed, a judge makes a declaration, and suddenly everything changes. That child now carries a new name, inherits new rights, and belongs to a new family story. But more than legal status shifts. Identity transforms. They are no longer defined by their past circumstances but by their new family's love, provision, and promise for their future.
John 1:12 captures this beautiful reality in spiritual terms: "But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name." This isn't just religious language. This is the most transformative truth we can teach our children. Through Jesus, they don't just learn about God from a distance; they are invited into the family of God Himself. They receive the right to call the Creator of the universe "Father." They become heirs to an eternal inheritance. They are forever marked by a love that nothing can separate them from.
As parents, we naturally want our children to understand their identity, both who they are and whose they are. We tell them they're loved, capable, and valuable. We speak over them and pray for their futures. But the deepest identity truth we can ever instill in our children is this: if they receive Jesus and believe in His name, they become children of God. Not because of anything they've done or any way they've performed, but simply because of God's grace and their willingness to receive it. This changes everything about how they see themselves, how they navigate the world, and what they believe is possible for their lives.
Notice the simplicity of this verse: receive and believe. God doesn't make it complicated. He doesn't require our children to achieve a certain level of goodness, complete a religious checklist, or wait until they're older and have life figured out. The invitation to become a child of God is extended right now, right where they are, with open arms and unconditional love. When we receive Jesus and we believe in His name, we are welcomed into God's family forever.
This is radically different from how the world defines belonging. The world tells our children they have to earn their place, prove their worth, and constantly measure up to changing standards. They're bombarded with messages that their value depends on their appearance, achievements, or popularity. But the gospel flips all of that upside down. God says, "You are Mine not because of what you do, but because of what I've done (Ephesians 2:8-9). You belong to Me not because you're perfect, but because of My Son, through His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). You are a child of God because I chose you (Ephesians 1:4-5), I love you, and I will never let you go (Romans 8:38-39)."
How do we help our children grasp this life-changing truth? We start by modeling what it means to live as children of God ourselves. Do our kids see us running to our Heavenly Father when life gets hard? Do they hear us pray with the confidence of beloved children who know they're heard? Do they watch us extend grace to others because we've received so much grace ourselves? Our children need to see that being a child of God isn't just a nice religious idea. It's a living, breathing reality that shapes how we walk through every day.
We also need to have intentional conversations about what it means to receive Jesus. This isn't something that happens by accident or through family tradition. Each person must make their own decision to receive Christ and believe in His name. Age-appropriate conversations about sin, salvation, grace, and faith open the door for our children to understand the gospel and respond to it personally. We share the good news that Jesus came to rescue us, that He died on the cross to pay for our sins, that He rose from the dead proving He has power over death, and that He offers us eternal life and a relationship with God when we receive Him by faith.
As we raise our children with this truth at the center, let's remember that our ultimate goal isn't just to teach them to be good people or follow religious rules. Our greatest calling as Christian parents is to introduce our children to Jesus and help them understand what it means to receive Him and become children of God. Everything else flows from that foundational relationship. When they know whose they are, they'll better understand who they are and why they're here.
So today, if your child hasn't yet received Jesus, pray for opportunities to share the gospel with them in ways they can understand. Ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts and draw them to Himself. And when they're ready to say yes to Jesus, celebrate that moment as the most important decision they'll ever make. If your child has already received Christ, continue to remind them of their identity as a child of God, especially when they forget, when they fail, or when the world tries to tell them they're something less. Point them back to John 1:12 and let them know that nothing can change their standing in God's family. They are His, and He is theirs, forever.
