Passage of the Day: Romans 8: 14 – 16 … [see in bold and underlined below] 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
My Journal for Today: In the first century a father could, and occasionally would, adopt a son and choose to make the adopted son the primary heir of the father’s estate. This is the word picture to which Paul was referring in today’s passage from Romans 8; and it is a good one to describe what happens when any Christian becomes re-born, i.e., adopted, into the family of God, to become God’s heir for eternity (see also John 1: 12 – 13).
And consistent with this word picture and the truth of my adoption into God’s eternal family, The Church of true believers, all my ties (i.e., all my debts) to my former life were severed (see today’s verse); and I can now rightfully call my God, “Abba Father.” And with my adoption, God sealed the process by imparting His Spirit, … implanted in my heart to reshape me into the image of Christ Himself (see 2nd Cor. 5: 17 and Phil. 1: 6). Now, being a true adopted son of God, all my past sin debts are cancelled; and I have the right – at any time – to come into the presence of my Heavenly Father, The King, without any condemnation (see Rom. 8: 1). Now is that not cool, or what?!!!
All of this, as John MacArthur points out in his devotional for this date in Strength for Today, is superintended by the Holy Spirit so that we, who believe and receive our Father’s grace, can live as children of God (again, above see Rom. 8: 16).
I know this is not a long devotional journal entry, but it is so important that we “get it,” … that is … that we internalize the meaning of our true relationship with God, the Father, through God, the Son, as witnessed to our souls, by God, the Holy Spirit. So, here I am, right now in this place, coming to my Abba Father, because His Son has given me entry rights to the Throne Room; and I’m labeled and enabled by God’s Spirit to be here. And I hope (and pray) that you’re with me. … Are you?
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, I am Your son forever! Blessed be Your Name! And I just know that there are others here who embrace our adopted place in Your kingdom family. Amen
Showing posts with label Family of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family of God. Show all posts
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, September 23, 2010
2010 – September 23 – The Pedigree of Faith
Study from God’s Word… Ezra 1: 1-6 [2Chron 26: 22-23], Ezra, Chapters 1 – 3, Ezra 4: 1-6 … Passage for Reflection: Ezra 2: 59 … NIV The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel.
My Journal for Today: You know there are many today who call themselves “Christian” because their parents identified themselves as “Christian.” Family traditions can be very important to self identification, but nowhere near today are family religious ties as important as it was for the displaced Hebrew people at the time of the book of Ezra, from which today’s text arises.
The Jews who had been in captivity from Babylon, the Medes, and the Persians for over 70 years were now allowed in 538 BC to return to the City of David, … Jerusalem. This repatriation occurred by the edict of King Cyrus of Persia, an event which exactly fulfilled the prophesy of Jeremiah; and it released the captive Jews to return to their homeland to rebuild their Temple. Oh how important for the descendants of Abraham to be identified as a “Jew” in those days. However, there were many, as chronicled in today’s text, who could not prove their Jewish lineage, which would prove very problematic for these people. Hence we see the many genealogical lists in the Old Testament (i.e., Old Covenant) Scripture. For Jewish traditions, it was even important in the New Testament for God’s word to establish the genealogical record of Jesus, the Christ, Who was, being a descendant of Abraham’s, the very fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
Today, in the New Covenant, established by Jesus Christ, we don’t have to be able to trace our spiritual lineage back to be in the family of Abraham by genetic/physical genealogical records. Our way of proving that we are part of the Family of God, being Children of God, is by faith, not genealogy. All I have to do, which I have done, to be grafted into the Family of God is to repent of my sin, believing that Jesus is The Christ, Who died for my sin on Calvary and was raised again to allow me to be grafted into the Family of God through my faith in Him.
So, no one today should be claiming to be in God’s family, who is identifying himself/herself as a “Christian,” because their family were/are Christians. No, our family ties to God are established by our faith in the Son of God, who loved us enough to become the Lamb of God, dying on the cross so that all who believe on Him might be saved and become Children of God (see 1st John 5: 10-12 and Romans 10: 9 – 13); and if – in faith – any of us comply to God’s established way of giving us access to His eternal family tree, we are in the family of God; and the Angels have celebrated in Heaven over our being grafted into God’s family.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I say “Hallelujah” that I am part of the family of God. Amen
My Journal for Today: You know there are many today who call themselves “Christian” because their parents identified themselves as “Christian.” Family traditions can be very important to self identification, but nowhere near today are family religious ties as important as it was for the displaced Hebrew people at the time of the book of Ezra, from which today’s text arises.
The Jews who had been in captivity from Babylon, the Medes, and the Persians for over 70 years were now allowed in 538 BC to return to the City of David, … Jerusalem. This repatriation occurred by the edict of King Cyrus of Persia, an event which exactly fulfilled the prophesy of Jeremiah; and it released the captive Jews to return to their homeland to rebuild their Temple. Oh how important for the descendants of Abraham to be identified as a “Jew” in those days. However, there were many, as chronicled in today’s text, who could not prove their Jewish lineage, which would prove very problematic for these people. Hence we see the many genealogical lists in the Old Testament (i.e., Old Covenant) Scripture. For Jewish traditions, it was even important in the New Testament for God’s word to establish the genealogical record of Jesus, the Christ, Who was, being a descendant of Abraham’s, the very fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
Today, in the New Covenant, established by Jesus Christ, we don’t have to be able to trace our spiritual lineage back to be in the family of Abraham by genetic/physical genealogical records. Our way of proving that we are part of the Family of God, being Children of God, is by faith, not genealogy. All I have to do, which I have done, to be grafted into the Family of God is to repent of my sin, believing that Jesus is The Christ, Who died for my sin on Calvary and was raised again to allow me to be grafted into the Family of God through my faith in Him.
So, no one today should be claiming to be in God’s family, who is identifying himself/herself as a “Christian,” because their family were/are Christians. No, our family ties to God are established by our faith in the Son of God, who loved us enough to become the Lamb of God, dying on the cross so that all who believe on Him might be saved and become Children of God (see 1st John 5: 10-12 and Romans 10: 9 – 13); and if – in faith – any of us comply to God’s established way of giving us access to His eternal family tree, we are in the family of God; and the Angels have celebrated in Heaven over our being grafted into God’s family.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I say “Hallelujah” that I am part of the family of God. Amen
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