Rights, privileges, and . . .

I am the son of Richard and Maureen Morley. I am eight years older than my younger sister, Melissa. My sister and I were raised by my parents on an island: Ocean City, New Jersey.

Growing up in my family, there were rights and privileges that were extended to me as a son and child in the family. There were of course, the usual rights and privileges: food on my plate, a roof over my head, clothes on my back. I was privileged to be sent on camping trips, vacations, and other trips by my parents, and sometimes with my parents.

There were also some privileges that were pretty specific to my family. The one that comes to mind the quickest is the fact that we lived at the beach. When we looked out the kitchen window we could see the Atlantic Ocean. We lived less than a five minute walk from the beach. In the summer, every sunny day we would go to the beach. I grew up swimming in the ocean, picking up seashells, and smelling the salt air. That was a privilege indeed.

I loved doting on my little sister, and when she was old enough to ride a bide, she and I would bike up to the boardwalk, and I would by her breakfast at one of the local grills that sat off the beach. It was a great childhood, a great place to grow up, and a great family to grow up in.

But, there were more than just rights and privileges extended to me. There were also responsibilities.

It was my responsibility to mow the lawn. (Postage stamp size on an island, but a lawn nonetheless!) It was my responsibility to wash the dishes. Clean my room. And the biggest responibility was to my sister.

My mother worked the night shift at the hospital, and my father worked during the day. So, on weekends, and during the summer months, when my mom was sleeping and my dad was at work, my job was to watch over my sister. She was my responsibility. Her safety, her entertainment, and her welfare was up to me for several hours a day. We had fun - lots of fun - but it was my contribution to being a part of the family.

In the reading from Paul's letter to the Romans this morning (8:9-17), Paul says one of the most astonishing things in the entire New Testament. He tells us that we, God's people led by the God's Spirit, have become God's children by adoption.

Now, this shouldn't be groundbreaking news to anyone. Anyone who ever attended Sunday School as a child should know that.

But, let it sink in for a moment.

God had a child. Jesus. His only born son.

But, God wasn't done with his family yet. He then adopted a few children.

Several billion by my count.

Children who are adopted become just as much a part of the family as natural born children. Legally they are a full member of the family. But, even more importantly, adopted children become completely emotionally grafted into the family. Parents who adopt children love thier adopted children, love them just as much as the children who they birth.

Now, let it sink in a moment: We are God's children. God is our father.

As God's children, we gain all the rights and privileges of being sons and daughters of God.

Think about it: children of wealthy, powerful, and influential people get some pretty good perks. George and Laura Bush's two daughters are pretty lucky. They get to fly on Air Force One. They get secret service agents assigned to them. Think of Bill Gates' three kids. Think of the children of the British Royal family: princes and princesses.

We may not be children of billionaires, world leaders, or royalty: but we are the children of the creator of the universe, the King of kings, the one who makes gold and forms diamonds through the millenia. We are children of God, will all its rights and privileges.

Paul also says that we are heirs. Children are the heirs of their parent's estate. We are joint heirs with God's Son Jesus. We are heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Let that set in a minute.

But, being children of God isn't just about rights and privileges. It's also about responsibilities. We are members of God's household, children of his family, and we have chores to do.

We are God's children and we have the responsibility to act like it.

Karen, my wife, grew up in Kingwood, West Viriginia. Her father is a small business owner in downtown Kingwood. As Karen and her siblings were growing up, her father was intent on seeing his children act right in public. For if there were running around raising Cain, it would reflect bad on the family. And if the family looked bad in the community, it might effect his business.

We have the responsibility of living lives worthy of being children of God. When we run around raising Cain we reflect bad on the family, and we make God and his Church look bad.

We have the responsibility of loving God our father, as he loves us. We have the responsibility of loving our neighbor, as he loves them too. We have the responsibility of forgiving others for the things they do to us, because our Father forgives us the sins we commit against him.

We have the responsibility of being a good member of the family - not causing, or buying into family feuds. We have the responsibility of treating the other children of God, as - children of God.

We are children of God. It's an incredible thing. It's amazing. Let it sink in. Revel in the rights and privileges of being in the family of the Almighty. And live up to that status. Let us live up to that calling, and finish our chores with joy and love.