The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"My Son… My Daughter"
"Believers serve a Father who is our Lord not merely as a matter of possession, but rather of spiritual paternity and pedigree."
As wonderful as it is for born again believers to be "servants of God," the Lord Jesus Christ died and rose again for a far greater purpose (I Peter 2:16).
"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:7).
The redeeming work of the Lord Jesus made possible our entrance and eternal place into "the whole family of Heaven and earth" (Ephesians 3:15). This does not discount the blessed privilege of being God's servants. Indeed, if servanthood were the highest office and position to which salvation in Christ redeemed us, we could not complain. The Lord is wonderful to His servants, and no other master begins to compare with His kind and benevolent governance. "Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according unto Thy word" (Psalm 119:65). It remains true, however, that in any house, sons and daughters hold a far greater place than mere servants (Hebrews 3:5-6). Believers serve a Father who is our Lord not merely as a matter of possession, but rather of spiritual paternity and pedigree. Little wonder the Lord Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father…" (Matthew 6:9).
Regarding wonder, we do well to remember that which made possible our place in the family of God. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). On the cross of Calvary, our Father made His perfectly righteous Son "to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21). The Lord's atoning death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven, from which He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those who believe, made possible our spiritual birth into living relationship with God. In the most elemental aspect of who and what we are to God, "thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Indeed, just as physical childbirth involves pain and blood to birth earthly children, do did our Lord's pain and blood make possible the most wondrous gift God could give us, to redeem and birth us from rebellion unto relationship - "no more a servant, but a son." Or, as has been said, "From dust to glory, what a story!"
To everlasting, God's sons and daughters in Christ will never completely fathom the grace of family relationship with the Father and the Son, as freely given through the Holy Spirit's presence within us. We will also never fully comprehend the cost that made such grace possible. Thus, we do well to frequently still our hearts to let the wonder of such a gift overwhelm us with gratitude, awe, and the yearning to better love the Father who has so loved us. Yes, if we could hear His voice, He would address us in a familial manner that will never cease to amaze our hearts with wonder. "My son… My daughter."
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
(I John 3:2)
Weekly Memory Verse
We love Him because He first loved us.
(I John 4:19)
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