Children of God!

For Friday, August 28, 2026:

Romans 9:26 NLT, Paul testifying to the church in Rome: “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

When Jesus visited us on our planet, it makes sense that he would come through the Jewish people, those who had an existing relationship with Yahweh. But the territory increased greatly after Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul was called to leave Israel and evangelize Asia Minor, where he planted church after church after church. And the prophet Hosea called those new believers ‘children of the living God.’

John also tells us, “To all who believed Jesus and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” Once again, ‘children.’ The faithful are adopted into the Holy Family, whereby God is our Father and Jesus is our brother. It’s a good family, and believers can be proud to be part of such a loving and accepting community.

God has opened the offer of eternal life in his Heavenly Kingdom to everyone. He also created us with freedom to choose, and we have the right to choose incorrectly. That’s unfortunate. Eternity is a long time, and we should want to be in the right place forever!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Daily message of hope...
For Friday, August 7, 2026:

Luke 6:25b NLT: “What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.”

Picture this: Jesus on the earth, healing many, casting out demons and performing miracles. Sounds like worship would be called for, but throwing a party and carousing would be more your style. Bad choice!

In keeping with his theme of the first being last and the last being first, Jesus says that in the end, the revelers will know only sorrow. Jesus’ ministry lasted only about three years, a relatively short time. That’s the time he could have been worshiped in person, and anyone who missed it may never get another chance.

Reversing the situation, Psalm 30:11 begins, “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.” Those who worship on earth will find themselves dancing in God’s forever Kingdom. If you have no time for God in this life, he won’t have time for you in the next. But if you love the Lord, he will adopt you into the Holy Family!

How we live in this life determines our eternal destination. God needs to be #1 both in this life and the next!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church

Children of God!

For Friday, May 15, 2026:

Romans 8:23b NLT: “We believers wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.”

As believers leave this life to be with the Father, every problem gets solved. Everything that was wrong is made right. Sickness and disease are the result of sin, and there is no sin around the Father. Cancer is only in the past tense. Hearts that were failing are made strong again. Each believer will be restored to better than original specs, the way we were designed from the beginning. A glorified body is part of our reward.

Of course bodies may not be required as our spirits settle in with God, his Son and the angels. After all, God is a spirit-being. But being “God,” he could take on a bodily form if he chose to. He did walk in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and that would have required a body! Either way, we’ll be adopted into the Holy Family with all the rights and privileges of a natural-born son or daughter.

This is all a part of why believers have perpetual hope for a glorious eternity in the presence of the Lord! The future looks bright!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Christian Club!

 For Saturday, April 22, 2023:

1 John 3:1 NLT: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

Having become Christians, it’s as if we joined a special club: “The Society of Children of God!” It’s not a secret society; it’s open to everyone! We meet every Sunday. (In Minnesota, we also seem to meet on Wednesday nights!) We eagerly welcome and accept new members! In fact, we have to recruit new members, because without the Holy Spirit, people living for the world just don’t ‘get it.’

Some translations say, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us.” In other words, step back and appreciate all that God has done for us, calling us his children. Consider it carefully. Be amazed by it. Be thankful for it, and share that Good News with others!

God could have rescued us without adopting us into his family, but in fact he did! God must really love us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Adopted by God!

For Wednesday, September 16, 2020. 

Galatians 4:5 NLT: “God sent his Son Jesus to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

We can easily picture one human helping another, and we can probably picture God helping mankind. But adopting us into the Holy Family? I’ll admit I didn’t see that coming! That’s more than we have a right to expect! Nonetheless, that’s God’s intention for those who believe in his Son! 

The author Paul had in mind a Roman model of legal adoption, where adopted children were given equal privileges in the family and equal status as heirs. He’s saying that believers have the same rights and privileges as any other family member, and that’s Good News for all of us!

Our God is a God of forgiveness, mercy, love and second chances. He’s in the redemption business. He wants to reach out, rescue you, and adopt you as one of His own. That’s what the Bible says, and that gives us hope! 

Blessings and safety,

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406