There are many things that were given to us by God. We were born with nothing, and we’ll all die with nothing to bring. All the things we acquire as we work are also given to us by God, because all things came from Him, even our breath, and our lives. (Genesis 2:7).

Material things like food and clothing were all blessings from God. (Ecc 3:13) And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.

Solomon explains all things came from God. (Ecc 5:18-19) Behold that which I have seen. it is good and right for one to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labor that he labors under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him; for it is his portion. Also every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

But, do we know that there are things that were not given to all people? What is this kind of blessing from God that are not given to all?

This blessing was given only to all who accept the Lord Jesus Christ. God manifest Himself through Christ but was not accepted nor recognized by many. Only those who accepted Him were given the chance to be His sons and daughters. This means that not all people can be considered as His sons and daughters. (Joh 1:11-13) He came to His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.

And according to Paul, the Apostle, those who were called are justified and those who were justified are glorified by God. (Romans 8:30) But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified.

And if accepted by God as sons and daughters, acceptance means having faith in Him and being called means having been baptized in His church, which is the church of God. (Gal 3:26-27, 29) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

But what is the responsibility of those who were called to be His sons and daughters?

As sons or daughters to our parents, it is our duty to be courteous and respectful to them. It is also our duty to be obedient, and most of all, loving to them.

This is also what God wants us. God feels joy and happiness every time we obey His commands and will. Our obedience gives glory and honor to God. (Prov. 15:20) A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

In what ways can we give happiness to God?

First, we must not forget His commands. (Prov. 3:1) My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments

Second, our hope and faith in Him must be shown. Whatever comes our lives, we must keep our trust in Him (Prov. 3:5-6) Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

Third, we must not forget to bring back all the glory and honor to God by keeping our hearts open to share, give and lend help to anyone especially to our love ones and to the church of God. (Prov. 3:9-10) Honor the LORD by making him an offering from the best of all that your land produces. If you do, your barns will be filled with grain, and you will have too much wine to store it all.

Fourth, God’s ways of disciplining us should be respected and accepted as His ways of protecting us and showing His love on us. (Prov. 3:11-12) My child, when the LORD corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning. The LORD corrects those he loves, as parents correct a child of whom they are proud.

And most of all, let us not forget that we are His sons and daughters. Whatever we do, think or say, do not forget in all the days of our lives that we are to obey Him and love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. We are called into holiness. (1 Peter 1:13-16) So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

Now, what did God gave us that we should give importance in our lives as His sons and daughters?

We all know that God gave us not only material things. God also gives us spiritual blessings to be able to grow in Him. Tests and trials are there to keep our faith firm.

Christ’s manifestation in the flesh gave us examples to follow. And in His teachings, He mentioned about a cup that we, as servants should also drink upon. This cup is the same cup that He drank upon and these are the sufferings that He was destined to face and overcome. (Mark 10:39) We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup I must drink and be baptized in the way I must be baptized.

We are not greater than Christ. His sufferings would like to show us that we are also bound to suffer also since we are His servants. (John 15:19-20) If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘Slaves are not greater than their master.’ If people persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too.

Sufferings are important element to enter the Kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22) They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. “We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God,” they taught. But its not enough to experience troubles and sufferings, we need to overcome and pass them.

When we experience pains and troubles as God’s servants, we share with Christ’s sufferings. This is the idea and teachings of Apostle Paul of being in unity with Christ. (1 Cor 10:16-17) The cup we use in the Lord’s Supper and for which we give thanks to God: when we drink from it, we are sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread we break: when we eat it, we are sharing in the body of Christ. Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us, though many, are one body, for we all share the same loaf.

When a servant is in unity with Christ, he can overcome anything in this life. He can stand firm in his faith and will continue to be strong, and nothing can separate him from his love to God. (Rom 8:35-39) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For Your sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep of slaughter.” But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How can we show our unity with Christ?

Being part of commemorating the Passover feast like Christ did is one of the ways we can show our unity in Him. (1 Cor 11:23-26) For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; And giving thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also, after supping, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood; as often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me.” “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show” the Lord’s death until He shall come.

This commemoration was practiced by the early Christians. The Apostles taught how important to commemorate Christ’s death as the sign of His new covenant with His servants.

In commemorating this particular event, servants of God need to be prepared for it. Self-examination is an important element of preparation to make sure that they will be acceptable to be part of being in unity with Christ through the symbolism of taking part in His body and blood. (1 Cor 11:28-29) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.