May 23, 2018 Wednesday

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are 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 witness with our spirit that we are 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 8:12-17 NKJV)

            In some cultures when someone saves your life you are indebted to them and will serve them.  In such a way we are debtors to Jesus who saved our lives and freed us from slavery to sin.

            Under sin we are constantly in bondage to fear but through Jesus the Christ we receive the “Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  What an amazing thought!  Through Jesus we are set free from slavery to sin and fear and are brought to an adoption of hope and life!

            Even more amazing we can be so close to God that like little children we can call God Daddy!  This term of endearment reveals to us the closeness of the relationship we can have with God.

            How can this be true?  How can we know and understand what is beyond our hope and dreams?

            The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are not only the children of God but even heirs.  God makes us heirs and joint heirs with Jesus!  This passage calls us back to the prayer of Jesus in John 17 as Jesus prays we could and would become united with God!

            Then Paul says that as we suffer for Jesus we will be glorified with Jesus!  It is easy to read past the suffering and go on to the glory but we really cannot have one without the other.

            Why do we need to suffer if the suffering of Jesus was enough?  By suffering for Jesus we declare to the world Jesus is worth living for and dying for!

            There is an old story that as Christians were dying in the arena some from the crowd would jump in desiring something worth dying for because they didn’t have anything worth living for!

            Rejoice!  Your life has been saved by the love and sacrifice of Jesus and we can have an amazing relationship with this God who wants us call Him Daddy!  We are called to serve, but we serve as children and heirs of God.

            Do you believe this wondrous news?  Have you sought not only salvation through the suffering of Jesus but a relationship with God as your Daddy?

            I got another letter from my pen pal Addison Hodgson.  Her letters always bless me and make the day brighter!  She has such a sweet spirit to write to me and even to remember me!  This week has been so much better than the last two.  We have had a lot of birds at the feeders and seeing them and hearing their song brings joy to my heart.  Their song leads me to join in praise to God.  It seems God has been leading me to pray for Central and South America, the Middle East, Korea, the Philippines and China.  I went on the internet and got maps of these areas so I can pray for the cities and provinces as well as the nations.