Saturday, February 25
Look what God has done!
Scripture: Leviticus 21-22, Galatians 4
Galatians 4:4–7 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.
Observation
What a loaded passage!
First, God sent his Son to redeem us and adopt us as sons—“sons with full rights,” sons who are also heirs. We are no longer slaves to the law or to sin, but sons of God (children of God—“son” is not gender specific in meaning; it refers to all God’s children). What a privilege to be God’s children and his heirs. I can’t even imagine all that is ours because we are his.
Second, God sent His Spirit, the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. The Spirit within us calls out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit—the Spirit of his Son—in my heart assures me that I am God’s son and leads me in prayer to the Father. What a privilege to be God’s child and have the Spirit of his Son in my heart. Abba Father!
Here’s another example of trinitarian theology quietly woven in Scripture. God the Father sent his Son. Then God the Father sent the Spirit—the Spirit of his Son. Father, Son and Spirit.
Application
Today, I want to marinate in these two thoughts.
First, I am God’s son with full rights, an heir of all that is his. I can’t imagine all that is ours because we are his.
1 Corinthians 3:21–23 So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Romans 8:15–17 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?
Second, the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Jesus—lives in me and leads me to the Father. Imagine a newly adopted child still getting to know his new father, holding back in fear or anxiety. Then his new brother takes his hand and leads him to the father saying, “It’s ok. You’re his son. He loves you. Let’s go together to talk with Dad. Abba Father!”
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
Prayer: Father, I love you! I want these truths to saturate my soul and make me a grateful son.