-January 26, 2024-
Good morning beloved, happy Friday,
“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
(Ephesians 1:5).
Sinners lost, separated from God, aliens, strangers, without God and without hope in the world—this was our lot, our standing, our state. It wasn’t pretty. Yet, God loved us and sent His Son to die on the cross for us, to bear ours sins. He turned our hopelessness into hopefulness.
God not only saved us, but He adopted us into His family as full sons. In Paul’s day, Roman sons were granted tremendous privileges. Often they were born into riches and honor. However, if one was born a slave, he stayed a slave. It would be almost impossible to be adopted into a rich family.
Paul told the Romans, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17).
Just think, you are a son of God, His own precious child! He loves you with an everlasting love and cares for you; he meets your needs and blesses you with every spiritual blessing. Everything that belongs to Christ is ours. He is our Abba, Father. Abba in the Greek means daddy. The Father can never love us any more than He does right now, nor will He ever love us any less. We will live and reign with Him forever.
How then should adopted sons live? We should behave as sons in our character, conduct, and conversation. We reflect our heavenly Father In everything we say and do. May the Lord help us to live like holy sons of God. We have recently seen the president’s son in big legal trouble and it reflects badly on his father.
Have a blessed day being about our Father’s business. Stay safe and healthy.
Living like sons while here below, points others to Christ, our salvation to show,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 