Children of God
Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9-17
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Romans 8:16
Every Christian is a servant of Christ, subject to his orders. But we are much more than servants--we have been adopted as God's children.
Adoption means security. A boss might fire an employee who fails, but a loving father cannot get rid of his child. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18). When God adopts us as his children in Christ, we need not fear that he will reject us.
Adoption means closeness. Supervisors and workers may settle for a businesslike relationship, but a father and child long for warmth and intimacy. God wants his children to obey him, but he also wants us to draw close to him simply because we love him and he loves us. The Spirit of adoption moves us to call God "Abba," an ancient word for "Daddy." It is a word full of respect and love.
Adoption means inheritance. "If we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ." Everything that belongs to God belongs also to his children. Since our Father is King, we his children are princes and princesses, and we "will reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:5). "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? ... Do you not know that we will judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
Father, how great is the love you have "lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" We thank you, Father, for the astonishing privileges of adoption through faith in Jesus. Amen.
About the author — David Feddes
Dr. David Feddes is pastor of Family of Faith Church and provost of Christian Leaders Institute, which supports mentor-based ministry training through online courses. David is also adjunct missiologist for Crossroad Bible Institute, which provides biblical distance education to more than 40,000 people in prison. Previously he served as broadcast minister for the Back to God radio program, reaching people in more than fifty countries. David earned his Ph.D. in intercultural studies from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL. He and his wife, Wendy, have nine children (one in heaven).
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