At the men’s breakfast this morning we discussed what it means to be a son…we are adopted sons… We discussed Galatians 4:1-7: 1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[a] Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. There is a lot in this scripture that we didn’t cover. What I focused on was the initial sentence. When we come to Christ, we come as a child and we are no different than a slave because we can not make decisions on our own. However, as we walk with Christ and His Bride for a time, we learn our Father’s voice and we become a son who now has all the rights awarded by the Father. I thought about an adopted child. Initially, the child may not think they are a part of their new family. They may rebel at times, but the new parents continue to love the child. Usually it doesn’t take long until the adopted child begins realizing that this family will love them no matter what, and something inside the child changes. Now they want to be a part of the family and are proud to be associated with it. As the child grows, it is only natural that, if the child is a son, it becomes more like the father and if it is a girl, more like the mother. Most of the time the child doesn’t do much to make this transformation happen. It just does. It is part of how we are made – in His image. By this I am very much encouraged. Let’s see… - I am an adopted son into God’s family. The adoption process started without me knowing anything about it. He did it because he loved me before I knew Him.
- I probably (ok, for sure, I did) rebelled a little bit when I found out I was adopted. I pushed away, drew back, until I saw the love that was unconditional.
- I finally “accepted” His gift which had already been given. When I did, He ran to greet me, embraced me, and we partied – it hasn’t stopped yet and we aren’t even to the wedding feast!
- Now the transformation takes place. I ask questions, listen to the answers, obey the rules, test the boundaries, and before you know it, I am walking and talking just like my Father.
1:16 because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
Now when I read 1 Peter 1:16, …”Be Holy because I am Holy”… it isn’t a command. Rather it is an encouragement. I know that as I watch, read, listen, obey, I will become more like my Father. It is part of how I am made – in His image. It may take a while, but I am conforming to the image of Him. I like that. I am encouraged.
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