Water for the Thirsty
Weekly Devotional

30^th May 2010

In Galatians chapter 4 Paul makes the following statement about our relationship with God: ‘So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (V 3-5)’

In the English Standard Version the last part of verse 5 reads ‘…that we might receive adoption as sons’. God sent Jesus so that we may be adopted as God’s children and receive the full rights of a son.

In Roman law, from which Paul was drawing his point, certain things were guaranteed for an adoptee. These included:

1. Taken out of his previous condition.
2. All old debts were cancelled.
3. He started a new life as a son.
4. He took the family name.
5. He was entitled to the family inheritance.
6. The new father owned the adoptee's property.
7. The new father controlled his relationships.
8. The new father had the right of discipline.
9. The new father was responsible for his support.
10. The new father was liable for his actions.
11. The adoptee was viewed as natural born.
12. Could not be reversed.

So as Christians, what does God, our Father do for us?

1. He gives us life.

1. A New Nature (2 Cor. 5:17; John 1:12)
2. Receives God's life (John. 3:36)
3. Receives new desires (Gal. 5:22)
4. Receives a new family (brethren)

2. He loves his children.

1 John 3:1 ‘How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!...’

3. He protects his children.

John 10:28-30 ‘I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one’.

4. He provides for his children.

Matthew 6:30-33 ‘If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’.

Then, as Christians what do we have with the Father?

1. Fellowship

1 John 1:3 ‘We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ’.

2. Access

Hebrews 4:16 ‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’.

3. Guidance

Romans 8:14 ‘…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God’.

John 16:13 ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…’

Psalm 32:8 ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you’.

4. Security

Romans 8:31 ‘What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?’

5. Correction

Hebrews 12:5-8 ‘And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons’

6. Inheritance

Romans 8:16-17 ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory’.

Have a good week living as a child of God.

Pastor Barry

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