In Father's Family

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to receive the full rights of sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Ephesians 1: 4-5 NIV)
The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. (Deuteronomy 31: 30-31 NIV)

It's easy to say that we are children of God. It's almost as easy as referring to children in a class at school. We see it functionally, rather than as a relationship. 

Here in Ephesians, Paul is bringing us back to the centrality of the gospel. Before the world was created the Father had a plan and that plan was to have a family. A family of sons and daughters who would be like his son, Jesus. A family that he would love in the same way as he loves Jesus. 

This has never stopped being his plan and he does everything to bring that plan into existence. He longs for relationship with us and this is far more important to him than our activity or busyness. As Christians we have been give the right to become children of God. Children to whom the Father relates intimately. 

It is his desire to be involved in every area and activity of our lives. Too often, when we hit a crisis, we want him to take our burdens from us and carry them. Yes, he will do that, but he longs to do much more. He wants to carry us as a father carries his son. His promise to us is that he will carry us all the way. He is totally reliable and will never let us down because he is a Father who cares deeply for his children.