Verse: Galatians 4: 1-7
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Thoughts
Paul uses two images here to drive home the power of what God has done for us in Jesus: slavery and adoption.
Before Jesus we were slaves to the "principles of the world" but after Jesus we have an invitation to become sons and daughters of God. Free from the slavery to this world, and liberated to join the family of God, enjoying all the benefits of being heirs with Jesus.
Peter tells us in 2 Peter 2:19 that we are slaves "to whatever has mastered" us. Think about this. Even if we have believed the message of Jesus, and accepted his gift of salvation, we can still go back into slavery of our own choice.
So take some time this morning to ask this question: "am I being mastered by anything?" Is anything in my life of more importance than Jesus? Am I currently walking in disobedience to God in any area of my life? Am I more influenced by wanting others to approve of me, than what God calls me to?
It can be so easy to slip back into slavery. It can be so easy to fall back into old habits, or patterns. It can be easy to become influenced by people we want to impress, or whom we want to like us.
But the invitation from Jesus is to join his family. We can be free from having to live according to culture's standards, and trying to measure up to what others want of us. We can, instead, enjoy the freedom of being already accepted and already loved by God. We can enjoy the liberating sense of purpose because God has a plan for our lives.
So ask yourselves today: am I living as a slave to anyone or anything? Or am I living as a child of God?
Prayer
Thank you for making me a child of God! I pray that I would live like it every day!