He was the kid no one thought would ever be. A miracle child. Defied all the laws of nature. Even giving million-to-one odds that he’d be born would have been generous. But with God nothing is impossible.

And after he was born? Well, to say he was the apple of his parents’ eyes would have been an understatement. Nothing, and I mean, nothing was going to compete with this kid. While dad might have had some room for some shared affections, mama bear cleared house, literally, of everything that would, or ever could, take away from her boy’s special place in the home.

But not only was this one child the favored child of mom and dad, but God Himself was pretty invested in the boy’s life, as well. After proving that dad’s love for God was greater than his love for his kid, and that dad’s faith trumped dad’s fears, God intervened and provided for Himself a “lamb for a burn offering.” What’s more, not only did the wonder kid inherit all dad’s assets, God made him an heir of all of God’s assurances, too.

However, though always in the place of privilege, the kid wouldn’t grow up perfect. He’d make mistakes along the way, waver in faith at times, and even mismanage his own family to some extent. But even if he wasn’t perfect he never ceased to be a child of promise.

Just like us.

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically . . . Now you, brothers (and sisters), like Isaac, are children of promise.

(Galatians 4:21-24a, 28 ESV)

Now you are children of promise.

I read it and I let it resonate.

I read it again and I remember my miraculous birth–defied all the laws of nature. No one, in a million years, me included, would have seen it coming. But with God nothing is impossible.

I behold the words on the page and I believe it. In some unfathomable way, I too am the apple of my Father’s eye, the favored kid. Not because of who I am or what I’ve done. In fact, in spite of those things. But eternally gifted with the affection of the Father, just because He determined to love me.

I chew on the sentence and think again about the sacrifice. A spotless Lamb offered in my stead. Provided by God Himself. God Himself. Heaven’s very best for a sinner like me. The only offering able to redeem, reconcile, restore, and renew.

That I too, like Isaac, might be a child of promise.

By His grace alone. For His glory alone.