Yesterday (Jun 19th, 2022) was Father’s Day, which led me again to J. I. Packer’s (1926-2020) great chapter titled “Sons of God” (Packer, Knowing God. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2004 [1973]). The chapter begins with the following line:

“What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father” (p. 225).

That we can call the Almighty God “Father” is indeed one of the greatest mysteries. Packer encourages us to say the following at least once every day (“My own real identity,” p. 258-59):

  1. I am a child of God.
  2. God is my Father
  3. Heaven is my home.
  4. Every day is one day nearer.
  5. My Savior is my brother.
  6. Every Christian is my brother, too.
Rhodes College Dad Mug that Sue bought for me (May 2022)

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