Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
“Abba, Father”
Because
you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the
Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.”
This passage
is a great reminder of the type of personal relationship we are privileged to
have with God. This passage reminds us that we are no longer slaves to sin and
to the law. Before knowing Christ, we did not experience the fullness of a
relationship with God, the freedom that was possible with God. We are now
experiencing the inheritance that was promised- a restored relationship with
God. We did not earn this Jesus restored our relationship with God. Because we
didn’t earn it, we can‘t lose this restoration, this inheritance.
The passage
also reminds us that we should be continuously calling out to God as our
Father. We have the “Spirit of his Son” in our hearts. We have the same
privileges that Jesus had with God- we can freely and openly come to Him as a
true child. Sometimes we forget this and continue to live as if we are slaves
instead of heirs- viewing God as a harsh figure, afraid to have a real
relationship with Him. We have heard the story of the prodigal son many times.
Do we really believe it? Sometimes we doubt that we are true children of God
and that He will take us back as the father in the story did.
When we are
the children of God we have the privilege to share our desires and ask our
petitions and like a loving father he will listen and give the best for us. He
knows what is best for us and what the best time to give that to us is.
Am I living my life as a slave or as a son of God? Wherever we are in our
lives, in the midst of highs and lows, God wants to be our Father. He wants us
to call out to Him, to have a relationship with Him, to be a true son.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the privilege of
being your child. Forgive me when I doubt you as a Father to me. Help me
to fully experience the joys of growing in a relationship with you.
Thought
for the day: How
different would my life look if I lived everyday believing I am a son/heir to
God, freed from slavery to sin?
Jibin and Soumya Thomas, Epiphany MTC, NY