God's Middle Child

All the names are in the same family register. One may have more grace than another, but God our Heavenly Father has the same tender heart towards all. ~Charles Spurgeon


Growing up, I got a lot of mileage out of being the middle child. When Mom went shopping with my older sister, I would say, “I’m just the middle child; I’ll stay home.” When Dad took my baby brother to an auction, I would say, “I’m just the middle child; I’ll stay home.” This was usually enough leverage for an invitation to tag along.

My Middle Grandchildren

Even as a child, I knew the birth order didn’t have any bearing on my parents’ love for me. Melodie loved to sing, and Craig was the funny baby who made everyone laugh. I, the famous middle child, just wanted to be Jo in Little Women. We all belonged to my parents; they loved us equally.

God loves His children equally, too. Melodie was given the beautiful gift of hospitality. I'm a writer, and my brother Craig is a pastor.  Birth order isn't important to God.  Whether we’ve been “reborn” twenty years ago, ten years ago, or just last week, we are children of God through our faith in Christ Jesus.

Think of it, a teenager in a third world country -- loved by God.  A child, born to a wealthy family -- loved by God. The young father, sitting in a jail cell trembling from a drug habit -- loved by God.  Me, the middle child in a loving family -- loved by God.  God doesn't have favorites.  Sometimes our actions make God smile, sometimes they break the heart of God.  Yet it doesn't change His love for us.  

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

God, with His tender heart, reaches down to that third world country, to the country club, the jail cell and to my childhood home -- and proves His declared, impartial love by offering eternal life.  

I love being God's middle child.  I think of those who have gone before me -- all who are coming after me.  And there I am, right in the middle; and I smile.  For we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:26).