In love, He
predestined us to be adopted as His children through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with His pleasure and will… (Ephesians 1:5) To those who have received Him, to those who
believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John
1:12). For you did not receive a spirit
that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship,
and by Him we cry, “Abba – daddy!” The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs of
God and coheirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17).
predestined us to be adopted as His children through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with His pleasure and will… (Ephesians 1:5) To those who have received Him, to those who
believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John
1:12). For you did not receive a spirit
that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship,
and by Him we cry, “Abba – daddy!” The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs of
God and coheirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17).
Have
you ever traveled to a third world country and seen the hundreds of children
who live on the streets – hungry, dirty, many without family or home? These nameless faces are a perfect portrait
of who I was without Christ. However,
the Son of God chose to leave His heavenly home to come and open his arms for any child willing to be embraced. Believe
me, I longed for that relationship. I was adopted – given a home and a family –
a place to belong! Not just any family,
mind you, the family of the KING! Now, I
am a daughter, a child, of the King. All
the rights of a natural born child are mine.
I am royalty! There were no
conditions to be fulfilled – the offer was simply made to “all” who would
come…and I came! Oh, there was a price that had to be paid, of course, and the
Son paid the redemption fee. The payment was steep – He had to give up his own
life, so I could step into His Father’s embrace. This is
unfathomable to me as a mom, but the Father agreed;
and so the real Son died in order that I could have this home, this family, a
new identity, and a new life.
you ever traveled to a third world country and seen the hundreds of children
who live on the streets – hungry, dirty, many without family or home? These nameless faces are a perfect portrait
of who I was without Christ. However,
the Son of God chose to leave His heavenly home to come and open his arms for any child willing to be embraced. Believe
me, I longed for that relationship. I was adopted – given a home and a family –
a place to belong! Not just any family,
mind you, the family of the KING! Now, I
am a daughter, a child, of the King. All
the rights of a natural born child are mine.
I am royalty! There were no
conditions to be fulfilled – the offer was simply made to “all” who would
come…and I came! Oh, there was a price that had to be paid, of course, and the
Son paid the redemption fee. The payment was steep – He had to give up his own
life, so I could step into His Father’s embrace. This is
unfathomable to me as a mom, but the Father agreed;
and so the real Son died in order that I could have this home, this family, a
new identity, and a new life.
Think
further. Can you just imagine what a
fearsome thing it is to live orphaned, abandoned, and hungry on the
streets? Street children don’t live long
lives. They are prey to every imaginable
predator – evil people, disease, famine/starvation, animals, and natural
elements (to name just a few). Street
children live a life of uncertainty, insecurity, and hopelessness. Fear is their constant companion. They are a slave to fear. But when the king chooses to adopt, he sends
fear running. In his house, there is no
fear, because his perfect love casts it out (1 John 4:18). This analogy works for me, too! Without Jesus, I, too, am a slave to fear and
insecurity. What a gift! I am given not just eternal life, but
innumerable gifts meant to set me free…
further. Can you just imagine what a
fearsome thing it is to live orphaned, abandoned, and hungry on the
streets? Street children don’t live long
lives. They are prey to every imaginable
predator – evil people, disease, famine/starvation, animals, and natural
elements (to name just a few). Street
children live a life of uncertainty, insecurity, and hopelessness. Fear is their constant companion. They are a slave to fear. But when the king chooses to adopt, he sends
fear running. In his house, there is no
fear, because his perfect love casts it out (1 John 4:18). This analogy works for me, too! Without Jesus, I, too, am a slave to fear and
insecurity. What a gift! I am given not just eternal life, but
innumerable gifts meant to set me free…
What an
Abba! What a daddy!
Abba! What a daddy!
Reflect…
1) If you were like one of those
dirty street children (which you were) what was your life like on the streets?
dirty street children (which you were) what was your life like on the streets?
2) If you were one of those
children, what is your new life like as a child of the King – as royalty?
children, what is your new life like as a child of the King – as royalty?
3) If you were one of those
children, what do you think about this new life?
children, what do you think about this new life?
4) If you were one of those
children, do you desire to give all this up and go back to live on the streets
again? Why or why not?
children, do you desire to give all this up and go back to live on the streets
again? Why or why not?
5) How does this relate to your
“identity” in Christ as a child of the King of Kings…
“identity” in Christ as a child of the King of Kings…
Add
these truths to your ever growing list:
these truths to your ever growing list:
I am a child of God. I have a daddy who is pleased with me.
I am an heir of God, a coheir
with Christ. The inheritance of the
Kingdom is mine.
with Christ. The inheritance of the
Kingdom is mine.
I am no longer a slave to fear.