But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7 NIV)
Do you know Almighty God as your Father?
Last week, in my blog entitled, “He Made ALL The Difference,” we looked at the fact that Salvation through Jesus Christ is God’s plan for everyone. We focused on Isaiah 49: 6 and Acts 13: 47-48. I spoke about how my sense of unworthiness hindered me from surrendering my life to Christ, and that I would share a bit about that in this blog.
Today’s Scripture from Galatians is one of my personal favorites. I have many favorite Scriptures, but this one has been key to the restoration that God has brought into my life. For much of my life, I have struggled with insecurity and low self-esteem, but knowing God as my heavenly Father has changed all of that.
In my younger years, I was treated by many of my peers as an “outsider.” I wasn’t able to do many of the physical activities they could, which made me somewhat different than them. After a while, I started to “own,” and accept being labelled as one who didn’t fit in with the “in” crowd. I didn’t feel as though I was accepted or belonged. Many people know that feeling – for a variety of reasons. But, the message in today’s Scripture has been life-changing for me, and I hope it will be for others as well.
Once we choose to receive Jesus Christ into our lives, we become God’s children through adoption. His Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us, He gives us a new sense of identity and a new awareness of whose we are, and to whom we belong. These things are all a part of our inheritance as God’s children and His heirs. Instead of feeling like an “outsider” in God’s presence, we can enjoy a close relationship with Him, like the one between a father and a son or daughter. John1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“
In Acts 13:45 we read that the Jews “were filled with jealousy” because God had accepted the Gentiles and offered them Salvation, as well as the Jewish people. When we become part of God’s family, we don’t need to feel any jealousy toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. God loves each of us with an unending and immeasurable love – “just because.” We don’t have to compete for, or earn, His love.
This Scripture brings good news to those who battle the feeling that their lives are just one big accident waiting to happen – that they and their lives are one gigantic mistake. Almighty God is supreme, and He does not make mistakes. He has a “Master Plan” for everything. He created you, and gave life to you, you are absolutely NOT a mistake. In the words, “when the set time had fully come,” we are reminded that the timing of Jesus’ birth was perfect, and certainly no accident. Almighty God intended it to be at that exact time. When He said, “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir,” we were affirmed as being free to make our own decisions. It’s up to us whether or not we will accept Him, and the inheritance He offers us.
In my next blog, “He Makes YOU Great,” we will look at how the Lord empowers and equips us to live extraordinary lives, through Jesus Christ.
My prayer is, “Heavenly Father, thank you for accepting me as Your child. I’m glad you have a plan for my life, please guide me daily by Your Spirit, and restore me so that I can become the person you want me to be. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
