As I have been approaching Father’s Day, I have been thinking about God the Father. How I am his child, how we all are children of God. How is it then that Jesus is called God’s only Son? Are we not children of God? Why does John in one of the most familiar New Testament passages, from John 3:16 call Jesus his only Son? I want to explore the beauty of how we have become children of God.
Jesus moves beyond outward behavior and speaks directly to the condition of our hearts. Anger, lust, resentment, and broken relationships reveal deeper spiritual struggles that God wants to heal and transform. Jesus shows us that the work in our hearts might be the most important work as those who follow Him.
Jesus calls His followers to live differently — like salt that preserves and light that shines. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are invited to influence the world around us while staying rooted in God’s truth. Jesus names what it means to surprise the world with grace, purpose, and faithfulness.
Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with a surprising picture of who is truly blessed. In a world chasing power, success, and comfort, Jesus reminds those who are on the margins and struggling that God is still at work in their lives. Together, we’ll discover how God’s kingdom reshapes our expectations of the good life.