“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:26)
There are many who will readily agree that this is true: we are sons of God. Yet, in attitude and practice, we often resemble servants or strangers, rather than sons– not too sure if we really belong there at the table with all the rest.
Because we have been adopted into this family, many of us are still learning the way the household of faith functions. Indeed, many have not yet entered into the rest of sonship.
A Healthy Family
In a healthy, loving home, children are nurtured, encouraged, and given opportunity to learn through both instruction and by trying new things. We do not expect children to get everything right on the first attempt. When mistakes are made, they are turned into lessons. A child may fail, but, due to unconditional love, is never considered a failure or anything less than a son of the house. A son knows his place at the family table is secure.
Because we were adopted into this spiritual family, we have likely brought with us some emotional baggage of attitudes and expectations from sinful and painful experiences in our past. Part of working out our salvation involves knowing and believing the love God has for us. It is choosing to be a son of faith, believing what God has revealed as truth in His Word, rather than the demands of our own emotions and opinions.
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” (1 John 4:16-18)
It is such a humbling thing to experience the constancy of the unfailing love of God. It is in this environment of love that we begin to relax and grow in confidence and boldness. Fresh appreciation keeps genuine gratitude and humility alive.
“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” (1 John 3:20 KJV)
No Longer Servants
God could have called us just servants, but that is not the relationship He wanted for us. Knowing our weakness, He extended family membership to us, that with His help, we would grow up as sons of glory.
“Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal 4:6-7)
Mature sons take on the same heart as Father and extend it to other family members, recognizing that all are a work in progress and remembering the kindness God has shown each of us. Mature sons seek to exemplify the goodness and mercy they have received.
Some of the discipline we experience from Father God is designed to show us where we are living beneath our value as His children and to make us free.
It is a glorious work to be brought into the fullness of our inheritance.
Getting Free
Is there a hindering mindset keeping you from the rest and freedom that is your inheritance as His son? Emotional baggage from the past may be blocking you. Perhaps you had to “earn” love as a child. Those old ways of relating will not work in God’s household. Forgiveness is necessary, and with it, renewing of the mind with the Word that results in changed behavior.
As you forgive your earthly family for their sins and shortcomings and yourself for your judgments of them, you will find a release to more fully receive the love of Father God for you as His child.
Let us have the attitude that because we are His sons, we have not only a rightful place in the family, but a welcome one, and we belong there. He has chosen us and gladly adopted us, and He is our home. Take your place at the table and enjoy the fellowship, resting in His love and thriving!
“This is Kingdom Lifestyle..allowing Holy Spirit to demolish all lies and beliefs we have operated out of and walk in the revelation of sonship.”
~ Brian Davis“The Law and the Prophets couldn’t reveal the Father; only the Son could. It’s still that way: legalism and judgmentalism still can’t reveal the Father’s love. Only sons can do that.”
~ David McLain