Orange Moon Thursday, June 4, 2026 "Sons and Daughters"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe… 

   

“Sons and Daughters”   

                                  

     “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:4-7).

   Why does the Apostle Paul, who so often referred to himself and all believers as servants, declare that Christians are “no more a servant, but a son?”

   The answer lies in the primary aspect of our relationship to God.  He purposed that human beings would become members of “the whole family in Heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:15).  This requires that we become more than mere servants in our fellowship with Him.  Through faith in the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father spiritually births us through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence.  Thereby, we serve God as family offspring rather than as merely hired help.  Most importantly, we relate to God by the primary motive of personal devotion rather than obligation, made possible by…

     “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5).

    What makes possible this lavish outpouring of our Lord’s own character and nature into our innermost depths, birthing us as sons and daughters?  The answer involves the holiest of all ground, whereupon we must remove our shoes and fall to our knees:

    “He hath made Him 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 Son was made to be sin that sinners might become sons and daughters.  The Bible never explains what this means in technical terms, likely because we could not begin to understand.  We know, however, that a sacrifice of the deepest and darkest magnitude occurred on the cross of Calvary, making possible a gift of proportionate grace and mercy.  Indeed, to the degree the Lord Jesus suffered, was forsaken, and died, those who believe are forgiven, indwelt, and enlivened by the presence of the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus.  Sinners become sons and daughters of God in a relationship that would seem far beyond that which any created being could expect.  Certainly, we serve our Heavenly Father, and joyfully accept the designation of “servant.”  However, we mean something far than mere obligatory employment.  Our Father rather calls us into a service of love, grace, and faith.  Indeed, of family.

     Growing realization of such a gift, the gift of family, changes our perspective and makes possible a far more sincere and faithful response to our Father.  Our Father.  How can it be that He calls us to know Him in this paternal relationship and devotion?  So much seems to argue against it.  The Spirit of God and the Word of God nevertheless calls us to see ourselves in such terms of wonder, based on the sacrifice of the Son of God, “made to be sin for us,” that we might be birthed as “dear children” (Ephesians 5:1)

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on His name.”

(John 1:12)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God.”

(I John 3:2)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

(Ephesians 6:10)

 

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