"If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." - Hebrews 12:8-10 ESV
Meditating on fatherhood and sonship this morning and how it shapes the male psyche. God Is our father and in a way that is a crazy thought.
'...that we may share his holiness...'
Wow.
Some Earthly Fathers are good at 'sharing their life' and have a great deal to share. Others are not so good. How much of a man's life is shaped by how he sees fatherhood or how he was fathered? Our Earthly fathers are only a reflection, no matter what they did or didn't do, of a deep relationship that Jesus had and has with His Father.
Grace is given so that the way would be forever open to share in a special identity. Holiness can also be translated as 'set-apartness'. A holy thing is a clean thing. It is eternal and forever untouched by anything base or defiling. Heavenly and holy overlap. Holiness is otherworldly.
God does what He does and we do what we do but do we understand His motivations? Do we know His heart?
I want to know my Father's heart. The new birth gives us spiritual DNA that resembles Him but do we know Him? I want to.
--
Showing posts with label Sonship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonship. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Sons Of The Father
This phrase caught me this morning...
Only a Son of the Father could do this.
"...God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons..." - Galatians 4:4b-5 KJV
Now the larger concept in a more modern translation.
"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. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" - Galatians 4:1-9 ESV
If we don't operate as children of the Father we will return to operating as subjects to rules. We had to be freed by 'the Son' and become children.
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV
We are no longer under 'a power'. We are in God's organized government as heirs to a throne with a King sitting on it that will never die.
Our 'Abba' is the King.
I marvel at that. It is the sweet spot of true freedom yet at the same time a son represents his father and is a reflection of Him to others. What an honor.
--
Only a Son of the Father could do this.
"...God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons..." - Galatians 4:4b-5 KJV
Now the larger concept in a more modern translation.
"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. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" - Galatians 4:1-9 ESV
If we don't operate as children of the Father we will return to operating as subjects to rules. We had to be freed by 'the Son' and become children.
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV
We are no longer under 'a power'. We are in God's organized government as heirs to a throne with a King sitting on it that will never die.
Our 'Abba' is the King.
I marvel at that. It is the sweet spot of true freedom yet at the same time a son represents his father and is a reflection of Him to others. What an honor.
--
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Planting Our Vineyard
"The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent." - Genesis 9:18-21 ESV
Let me first say that I don't drink wine or alcoholic beverages. I have personal convictions about it based on biblical truth. I also don't want to be a stumbling block to anyone who has or has had a problem in that area.
"And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." - Matthew 26:27-30 ESV
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18 ESV
Wine is symbol for joy in the Hebrew scriptures. I will drink wine with my Savior one day. My body will have been changed by then. I won't have the weaknesses I have now. In a way I consider myself a soldier. I won't do certain things 'on duty' and I will be on duty for the rest of my time on Earth. All things are lawful but not all things are profitable. Being filled with the Spirit is profitable in this age we live in.
It is interesting to think of Noah as a wine person. People who know a lot about wine are often very particular. They have words for every aspect of the wine's flavor. The soil in Spain is different from the soil in Italy or in France and wine people know all about it. They know which wine to drink with different foods. In a way they are experts at cultivating a natural kind of joy.
Noah came through the ultimate PTSD inducing experience. He lived through the end of his world. He had worked and worked and worked for so long and now he was in a new world. The waters had subsided and he saw the soil and regrowth of a clean and purified Earth and thought, 'This soil is perfect for grapes!'
If anyone deserved a little joy it was Noah. That guy had spent his life pounding out the will of God. He had spent several of our lifetimes.
But there was a problem. More than one in fact. There were only a few people on the planet and the Earth had changed after the flood. Air pressure had changed. The intensity of the sun had changed. Scientists even believe from studying pre-flood vegetation that all the water on the planet had been changed in subtle ways. The absorption of minerals in water and vegetation had been altered. Dinosaurs lived before the flood because they could live in that environment. The Earth could support meaty creatures that large because the vegetation had the nutrition to support them.
Noah just saw great soil and a chance to relax tending a huge vineyard. I imagine it was a large one. Noah wasn't exactly a small scale person, was he? The thing is... the joy he imagined was no longer practical in this new world.
"He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.' After the flood Noah lived 350 years. All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died." - Genesis 9:21-29 ESV
Noah was 600 years old when this happened. Noah changed his focus and he lived another 350 years watching his children go in different directions.
I see it as a warning. Is God's grace enough or am I planning to plant and expand my vineyard and cultivate a life of natural joy? You might say, 'Does it have to be one or the other? Can't I have both?' and all I can say is read the Bible and decide. Far be it for me to tell you how to live your life.
Joshua said...
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15 ESV
He lived a victorious life.
In this age we are not servants we are sons and daughters who choose how to live our life.
I'm not going to look out and say, 'Wow. I could grow some great grapes here.' instead I want to look out and see souls and sow the seed of the Gospel. Being filled with the Spirit is my ultimate satisfaction. Jesus isn't drinking. He hasn't had a drop since the last supper.
"I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." - Matthew 26:29 ESV
On that day I will break my fast also. I haven't made a pledge like that but I choose day to day to live in unity with my Savior. We will raise our glasses together in victory.
--
Let me first say that I don't drink wine or alcoholic beverages. I have personal convictions about it based on biblical truth. I also don't want to be a stumbling block to anyone who has or has had a problem in that area.
"And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." - Matthew 26:27-30 ESV
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18 ESV
Wine is symbol for joy in the Hebrew scriptures. I will drink wine with my Savior one day. My body will have been changed by then. I won't have the weaknesses I have now. In a way I consider myself a soldier. I won't do certain things 'on duty' and I will be on duty for the rest of my time on Earth. All things are lawful but not all things are profitable. Being filled with the Spirit is profitable in this age we live in.
It is interesting to think of Noah as a wine person. People who know a lot about wine are often very particular. They have words for every aspect of the wine's flavor. The soil in Spain is different from the soil in Italy or in France and wine people know all about it. They know which wine to drink with different foods. In a way they are experts at cultivating a natural kind of joy.
Noah came through the ultimate PTSD inducing experience. He lived through the end of his world. He had worked and worked and worked for so long and now he was in a new world. The waters had subsided and he saw the soil and regrowth of a clean and purified Earth and thought, 'This soil is perfect for grapes!'
If anyone deserved a little joy it was Noah. That guy had spent his life pounding out the will of God. He had spent several of our lifetimes.
But there was a problem. More than one in fact. There were only a few people on the planet and the Earth had changed after the flood. Air pressure had changed. The intensity of the sun had changed. Scientists even believe from studying pre-flood vegetation that all the water on the planet had been changed in subtle ways. The absorption of minerals in water and vegetation had been altered. Dinosaurs lived before the flood because they could live in that environment. The Earth could support meaty creatures that large because the vegetation had the nutrition to support them.
Noah just saw great soil and a chance to relax tending a huge vineyard. I imagine it was a large one. Noah wasn't exactly a small scale person, was he? The thing is... the joy he imagined was no longer practical in this new world.
"He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.' After the flood Noah lived 350 years. All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died." - Genesis 9:21-29 ESV
Noah was 600 years old when this happened. Noah changed his focus and he lived another 350 years watching his children go in different directions.
I see it as a warning. Is God's grace enough or am I planning to plant and expand my vineyard and cultivate a life of natural joy? You might say, 'Does it have to be one or the other? Can't I have both?' and all I can say is read the Bible and decide. Far be it for me to tell you how to live your life.
Joshua said...
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15 ESV
He lived a victorious life.
In this age we are not servants we are sons and daughters who choose how to live our life.
I'm not going to look out and say, 'Wow. I could grow some great grapes here.' instead I want to look out and see souls and sow the seed of the Gospel. Being filled with the Spirit is my ultimate satisfaction. Jesus isn't drinking. He hasn't had a drop since the last supper.
"I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." - Matthew 26:29 ESV
On that day I will break my fast also. I haven't made a pledge like that but I choose day to day to live in unity with my Savior. We will raise our glasses together in victory.
--
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Beggars
This quote touched me this week. It made me think...
'We are never more than poor beggars telling other beggars where there is bread.' - Don Carson
One one level I relate to that idea so keenly. My meditation on it brought me here.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.' ' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate." - Luke 15:17-24 ESV
The Father wasn't going to respond verbally to his Son's confession of poverty. His father's response was the robe, the ring and the calf.
So yes we say to each other, 'I have found the best place to get bread. I care for you my fellow traveler with a hungry soul. Jesus has the best bread I have ever tasted. He is just around the corner and He gives it away for free.'
At the same time the Father makes us rich with His love. He doesn't ses a dirty beggar... He sees a son or a daughter.
--
'We are never more than poor beggars telling other beggars where there is bread.' - Don Carson
One one level I relate to that idea so keenly. My meditation on it brought me here.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.' ' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate." - Luke 15:17-24 ESV
The Father wasn't going to respond verbally to his Son's confession of poverty. His father's response was the robe, the ring and the calf.
So yes we say to each other, 'I have found the best place to get bread. I care for you my fellow traveler with a hungry soul. Jesus has the best bread I have ever tasted. He is just around the corner and He gives it away for free.'
At the same time the Father makes us rich with His love. He doesn't ses a dirty beggar... He sees a son or a daughter.
--
Friday, July 10, 2015
The Loyalty Of A Prince
I was also thinking about angels yesterday. Loyalty and angels.
"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." - Jude 1:9 KJV
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia... But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince." - Daniel 10:13, 21 KJV
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." - Daniel 12:1-2 KJV
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," - Revelation 12:7 KJV
Michael is described as one of the chief princes in Daniel 10:13 but then as your prince in Daniel 10:21. Angels are not human. They are a created host. It is interesting that Michael is referred to as a prince considering the fact that he is not a son of anyone in a traditional sense.
Princes are men of purpose. If your father is the king you are born and live your life as the son of the king.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" - Job 38:4-7 ESV
This is spoken to Job and Job doesn't know these things. He hasn't seen them and neither have we.
Micheal is a prince but we don't know why. He is a prince assigned to Daniel and Daniel's people. He goes to war and other angels heed his commands. He will stand up one day and it will be the beginning of the end of human civilization. This phase of God's plan will come to a close and a new one will begin. The Bible speaks about these happenings and they are glimpses of the future. We don't talk about these things very much... at least I don't. It behooves us to discuss grace, mercy, love and those things that are involved with having a relationship with God and each other.
Michael might as well be tucked away in a parallel dimension somewhere. We don't see him or relate to this ever loyal prince. We are told that angels are close by and there are those that claim to see and talk to them but most of the folks that do make that claim seem to end up in institutions. Angels just aren't visible to mankind at the moment.
As children of God we are princes also... even the ladies... we have all the rights and privileges of ancient son-ship.
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 ESV
Michael wakened to existence in a moment before time began as a prince. We are adopted sons. God looks at us and sees princes. What kind of princes will we be? Are we loyal? Where is that loyalty?
David's sons and daughters seemed to have a great deal of liberty didn't they? Just read 2 Samuel. Some of it reads like an ancient soap opera. Love. Loyalty. Betrayal. Revenge.
Which son will we be? That is my meditation. Do I understand the grace of my father? Am I loyal to Him or a false perception and expectation that He would not agree with if I discussed it with Him.
The angels know their posts. There know where to be and when to be there. A third of them have left their assignment and fallen into ruin and rebellion. There will be war in Heaven because of it.
Do we stand for the grace of our father? Are we concerned with the honor of His house or are our loyalties non-existent or spread out in places that are less than royal in nature?
Grace align us. It shows us our post. When we give grace we are revealed to be a prince and not just any prince. In that moment we are a prince sent by God to stand for some one and defend them against accusation and invasion. We become living representations of God's honor, care and awareness.
These angels are God's invisible princes but we are His visible ones. Let's be sons that reveal our Father's heart.
--
"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." - Jude 1:9 KJV
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia... But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince." - Daniel 10:13, 21 KJV
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." - Daniel 12:1-2 KJV
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," - Revelation 12:7 KJV
Michael is described as one of the chief princes in Daniel 10:13 but then as your prince in Daniel 10:21. Angels are not human. They are a created host. It is interesting that Michael is referred to as a prince considering the fact that he is not a son of anyone in a traditional sense.
Princes are men of purpose. If your father is the king you are born and live your life as the son of the king.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" - Job 38:4-7 ESV
This is spoken to Job and Job doesn't know these things. He hasn't seen them and neither have we.
Micheal is a prince but we don't know why. He is a prince assigned to Daniel and Daniel's people. He goes to war and other angels heed his commands. He will stand up one day and it will be the beginning of the end of human civilization. This phase of God's plan will come to a close and a new one will begin. The Bible speaks about these happenings and they are glimpses of the future. We don't talk about these things very much... at least I don't. It behooves us to discuss grace, mercy, love and those things that are involved with having a relationship with God and each other.
Michael might as well be tucked away in a parallel dimension somewhere. We don't see him or relate to this ever loyal prince. We are told that angels are close by and there are those that claim to see and talk to them but most of the folks that do make that claim seem to end up in institutions. Angels just aren't visible to mankind at the moment.
As children of God we are princes also... even the ladies... we have all the rights and privileges of ancient son-ship.
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 ESV
Michael wakened to existence in a moment before time began as a prince. We are adopted sons. God looks at us and sees princes. What kind of princes will we be? Are we loyal? Where is that loyalty?
David's sons and daughters seemed to have a great deal of liberty didn't they? Just read 2 Samuel. Some of it reads like an ancient soap opera. Love. Loyalty. Betrayal. Revenge.
Which son will we be? That is my meditation. Do I understand the grace of my father? Am I loyal to Him or a false perception and expectation that He would not agree with if I discussed it with Him.
The angels know their posts. There know where to be and when to be there. A third of them have left their assignment and fallen into ruin and rebellion. There will be war in Heaven because of it.
Do we stand for the grace of our father? Are we concerned with the honor of His house or are our loyalties non-existent or spread out in places that are less than royal in nature?
Grace align us. It shows us our post. When we give grace we are revealed to be a prince and not just any prince. In that moment we are a prince sent by God to stand for some one and defend them against accusation and invasion. We become living representations of God's honor, care and awareness.
These angels are God's invisible princes but we are His visible ones. Let's be sons that reveal our Father's heart.
--
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Dear Ones
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2
That first word 'Beloved'... in Greek it is Agapētos... It is term of great affection like darling or dear. Now we are the adult children (Teknon) of God. The is another Greek word for little children or babies. Teknon is a word that denotes real adult exchange and impartation.
In a real way we are princes and princesses although that image can conjure up Disney characters in our minds. We are not sons and daughters clothed in satin and pastels. We are not perfectly formed or behaved. Many of us do not break into song at the sight of an open meadow and blue birds do not follows us in graceful chirping little groups.
It does not yet appear what we are and will be. We do know we are adopted and each of us is incredibly special to God. So special and important that we are destined for greatness and transformation at the sight of the the One who saved us and made us this way.
"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1 John 3:3
It is this hope, the hope of the finished work of Christ, that makes us want to jump into the spiritual shower and be clean. Today is a great day like a wedding or a graduation. We have a dignity that makes us want to be clean. We want to brush our hair because it is picture day.
It is the hope that cleans us up. It is not vanity or self-importance it is dignity and the expectation of greatness.
Let the little girls wear their princess dresses and don their tiaras. We love to watch them swirl and sing in shiny little shoes. Enjoy the moment and think of it again when they are 13 or 14 because they will likely be singing a different song then.
It does not yet appear what they will be or what we will be. When we see Christ there will be great music and it will issue from our lips. He has assured us a clean, new glorious future. Today let us jump into the shower of that hope with expectation of what is to come.
That first word 'Beloved'... in Greek it is Agapētos... It is term of great affection like darling or dear. Now we are the adult children (Teknon) of God. The is another Greek word for little children or babies. Teknon is a word that denotes real adult exchange and impartation.
In a real way we are princes and princesses although that image can conjure up Disney characters in our minds. We are not sons and daughters clothed in satin and pastels. We are not perfectly formed or behaved. Many of us do not break into song at the sight of an open meadow and blue birds do not follows us in graceful chirping little groups.
It does not yet appear what we are and will be. We do know we are adopted and each of us is incredibly special to God. So special and important that we are destined for greatness and transformation at the sight of the the One who saved us and made us this way.
"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1 John 3:3
It is this hope, the hope of the finished work of Christ, that makes us want to jump into the spiritual shower and be clean. Today is a great day like a wedding or a graduation. We have a dignity that makes us want to be clean. We want to brush our hair because it is picture day.
It is the hope that cleans us up. It is not vanity or self-importance it is dignity and the expectation of greatness.
Let the little girls wear their princess dresses and don their tiaras. We love to watch them swirl and sing in shiny little shoes. Enjoy the moment and think of it again when they are 13 or 14 because they will likely be singing a different song then.
It does not yet appear what they will be or what we will be. When we see Christ there will be great music and it will issue from our lips. He has assured us a clean, new glorious future. Today let us jump into the shower of that hope with expectation of what is to come.
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