We have all heard the songs that represent the present generations. They speak of loss, hopelessness, anger, loneliness, and frustration. Many of us cling to these songs because they speak truth about our own situation, and we can identify with the emotions contained within the words and sounds. Many times these emotions stem from our relationship with our parents and family. There are moments when we all ask, what did God intend for a family to be? What is agape love?
I’ve heard from many people that God is just a cranky old man up in heaven that judges us all day and condemns us for our sins. A lot of the time they are bitter for the shortcomings of their own families or just the way their life has turned out. They blame God, rationalizing that, “if He were real, things would be different.” Often Christians only further that picture by beating people over the head with scripture and further pointing out others shortcomings. Perhaps we should question ourselves, are we subjects of God, or are we something more?
1 John 3:1 states that Gods love for us is so great we are called the children of God. Some would see this passage and think of their own father’s abuse, neglect, or laziness and fail to see what a father/child relationship infused with Love really should be. If you go no further, you can only rely on what you have already seen. Much of the world has only seen a distorted view of what a father should be. They don’t know what love really is. That’s where we come in…let’s go deeper into his word and explore what we were really meant for!
Romans 8:14-15 exclaims that as Christians, we are led by the spirit, and anyone led by the spirit has been given the gift of sonship! Further, we are no longer a slave to fear, because at anytime we can cry out “FATHER, FATHER,” and he will come. What father, who is driven by love, ignores the cries of his own son? None; if you are truly led by love, you will strive to protect, serve, and honor the one you love (1 Corinthians 13). Do not be fooled by the actions of the world and what they claim is love, follow along with the words of the one who created love.
Some of you had parents who indeed loved you, and others may now understand what God’s motivation truly is. Now you might ask yourself, how far does this sonship deal really go? Continuing in Romans 8:16-17, we find that we are elevated to the level of joint heirs with Christ. That means that we stand to inherit a part of everything that Christ stands to inherit. We are not the secondhand children of God; we are placed alongside Christ so that we stand to be loved with the same fullness of God.
Our inheritance doesn’t end with love! Romans 8:29 states that we are the firstborn among many brothers. Each of us is to be treated like the eldest child. Those of you who are the eldest know the responsibility you bore, but also think of the authority you were given. If your parents were wise and you were somewhat mature, I’m sure that you were in charge whenever your parents were absent. Each of us has been given that same authority!
In our art we must come to respect the fact that each person in the room is a child of God. No one of us is more important to him than the next. Even more important is that we are all siblings! We must care for one another and love one another. A problem for one of us should be a problem for all. We each have authority given to us by God and that makes all of us equals. We cannot fall into the trap of placing one person before another when it comes to respect. We bow to each other and thank one another, we must also pray for one another and fellowship together. Through these things we will build our family.
If you have read carefully I hope that in these simple paragraphs you have been able to overcome the view that we are subjects of God. Then I hope you can see what love really means, and that you can get past the mockery the world has made of it. Further, I pray that you are coming to understand your true place as a joint heir, and firstborn child of God. I hope that you will pray for each of us and that you will further your devotion to God and help spread our love to those outside of our family. There is always room in the family of God and we must always look to spread his love. Once you have fully embraced your sonship, you will be ready to understand your rights as a Child of God…. |
