The Favorite Child

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

“You know, I’m Mom’s favorite.”

“Did you know Dad said I was his favorite child?”

I say similar things to my three siblings all the time. Sometimes we will hack Mom’s Facebook or add comments to a post, stating that we are the favorite child. We do this with our cousins also. We say things like: “Since Susie is my favorite cousin….,” or “Did you know Danny said I was his favorite?”  Being the favorite is a coveted place to hold within a family. Of course, as a Mom, I know there is no such thing as having a favorite child. We don’t run out of love, we don’t have to ration our affections, and we are capable of loving equally.

But, did you know you are God’s favorite child?

Yup, that is correct, you are indeed His very favorite child. You hold a place in His heart you don’t share with anyone else.

Human Love vs. God’s Love

How is this so? Let’s first look at love from a human standpoint. The American Heritage Dictionary defines love as “an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties.” This is what we call a conditional love. A love based on the presence of certain emotions or conditions. As humans, we are only capable of this, conditional type of love. The closest we come to unconditional love is the love we have as parents. We choose to love our children regardless of their performance, their successes, their struggles, etc.…

How does God define love?

• God is love – God is the embodiment of love; He is the very essence of love (1 John 4:8)

• God’s love is sacrificial – Jesus Christ laid down His life so you and I might have everlasting fellowship with God the Father by believing in Him. (John 3:16)

• God’s love is enduring – No matter what happens “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,” will separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39)

You are God’s favorite!

According to Merriam-Webster, the word favorite means, “one that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking.”

God is not limited in His favor. God does not rank us. We do not need to compete with each other to earn that coveted place in the family as the favorite. As children of God, we all have God’s favor bestowed upon us. Let me give you a list of verses showing you God’s favor is upon you;

• The favor of God surrounds us as a shield. (Psalm 5:12)
• It is because of God’s favor that we have been justified through faith and have peace with God (Romans 5:1)
• God’s favor allows us to find Him any time we seek Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)
• Even God’s discipline is an act of His favor on our lives (Hebrews 12:5-6)
• The reward of His favor is a promise that He will work all things for His good in our lives (Romans 8:28)
• But most importantly, it is His favor on us that allows us each to be called Child of God. The one who has His enduring favor. The one who is treated and regarded with special favor and liking, making you God’s Favorite Child! (John 1:12)

Being part of the family

God created us with a need to feel accepted. Sometimes when you think someone in your family is favored over another, you feel as if you are not good enough. We joke about being a favorite, but secretly, we each desire to be the “favorite child.” We want the affirmation that we are accepted for who we are.

We do not have to fear rejection from our heavenly Father. Our place in the family of God is not based upon anything other than the fact that God created us, wants to be with us and loves us unconditionally. You are His favorite child!

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the lavishing love you give me as a child of God. Thank you for the inheritance you provide me as your daughter. I feel so privileged to be part of your family and grateful that nothing will ever separate me from you or cause me to fall from your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.