Lord, speak to me today.  Amen

 

Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV)

 

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

 

I can’t recall how old I was when I first realized that I could call my father ‘Dad’ and the rest of the kids in my neighborhood couldn’t. I think it was about the same time I realized that my Dad was a loving provider to whom I had very special access.  He worked very hard to meet my needs and guide me around and sometimes through the potholes of life.

 

It would be many years later before I came to understand that I was his heir and that I would receive an inheritance when he died and went to be with the Jesus. As I have grown older, I also have come to realize that much of what I inherited from my Dad occurred prior to his death.

 

I was blessed to have a loving Christian father who was attentive to my needs, provided liberally during my lifetime, and left me a small inheritance when he died.

 

All this came to mind as I read the passage in Galatians chosen for today.  I am grateful that I was raised in a Christian home and introduced to Jesus at a very young age.  I am grateful that God is still teaching me things today.

 

Some time ago, Nicky Gumbel, reflecting on this passage wrote, ”How amazing it is to have the full rights of a child of God and that God sent the Spirit of his Son – the Spirit of Jesus – to live in each one of us and that we can address God in the same intimate way as Jesus addressed him.”

 

I am so thankful during this season of Advent that God loved us so much that He took on human flesh and came into our world.  I am thankful that the baby in Bethlehem, whose birth we are about to celebrate, grew to manhood and gave His life and rose from the grave so that we might be called children of God.

 

Today I rejoice anew that as a child of God I have unlimited access to our Father in heaven, who daily provides for my needs, guides me through the potholes of life and promises an inheritance, beginning right now, that is far beyond anything I can comprehend. How about you?

 

John