June 19 – Joyful Righteous Freedom

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1 (NASB)
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” – 1 Peter 2:16 (ESV) 

Today we have three verses on freedom. The United States will be celebrating freedom on the nation’s newest federal holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day became the 12th legal public holiday on June 17, 2021. The action of one human owning another and determining all aspects of another’s life has always been a tragic part of human history. Slavery continues around the world even to this day. The pursuit of freedom from bondage and statutory slavery is a natural desire. Often over-looked is the deadly slavery to sin that holds people in bondage to unrighteous thought, speech, and actions. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God came into our world, born as a baby and lived a perfect human life⸺free of any sin. Christ was never a salve to sin so when He offered himself in our place, to die for us, it gave each of us the opportunity to be free from slavery to sin as well. Christ’s death satisfied the penalty for sin that was due (Romans 6:23). Through faith believing in Christ, we are set free from sin – we are no long in bondage to sin, we are free as we abide in Christ’s righteousness.  

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May 27 – Daddy, Papa, Abba!

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””  - Romans 8:15 (ESV)

Let us consider in this passage how we are “talked about.”  For when we repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus, we become children of our Father God through adoption.  We have been adopted as ‘children of God,’ (verse 15); we are ‘sons of God,’ (verse 14);  we are ‘children of God’, (verse 16); we become ‘heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ’, (verse 17). What does it mean to become an heir of God? It means to inherit everything God possesses. It will all be ours in the glory of heaven, and we are fellow heirs with Christ. That is to say, our inheritance is the same inheritance Christ made available and has – it is all that God possesses.  We learn in Romans 8:28, and we have studied this promise several times in the past, everything that happens in our life God works together for our good. And what is our good? Our inheritance, our eternal inheritance. Our relationship with God as our loving Father is so special that we call out to Him, “Abba!” “Daddy!”  “Papa!” “Tata!” “Papi!” Whatever affectionate term we use.  We are His, He is our Abba!

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October 4 – Who's Our Daddy?

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ”  - Romans 8:14-15   (ESV)

If we pay attention to what is happening in our world these days, we might have a fearful reaction and more than a little anxiety.  We hear the question, “What IS happening to our world today?” being more and more because people are losing the sense of security they had in their way of life. Things in our world are not like they used to be and that is disrupting.  We want to go back to those days and we cannot.  But we can take heart and be encouraged because of this promise from God.  If we have surrendered to God and now are led by His Spirit, we have assurance that we are children of God and a part of His family.   When we were born again into God's family by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, we were set from being slaves to fear and worry.  Our future is secure even if our life now faces difficulty and our faith is tested.  We can actually look to God our Father who loves us like like his own.  He invites us to call Him “Daddy” which is the colloquial meaning of “Abba”.  His promise protects us perfectly in every storm. 

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January 25 – No Slavery. No Fear.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”” Romans 8:15 (NASB)

Maybe you have noticed the increasing hostility in the world toward those who profess faith in God and believe in Jesus for salvation. If we are Christians we must never forget what God has done in bringing us into His family. Our verse brings us a wonderful promise that we do not have to be slaves to fear anymore. God wants us to be sure that we recognize what it means to be His child. To  help us to remember that God has sent us His Holy Spirit to confirm this family relationship. If you turn to God today realizing that He is your Father it will be because the Holy Spirit is making it real in your life. And if you call on God today and you call Him Father it will be the Holy Spirit putting that name in your mind and on your lips. Aren't you glad that God has arranged it as our verse says that we received a spirit of adoption giving us the desire to cry out Abba! Father!  'Abba' is a word much like 'Dad' or 'Papa' used by children for their fathers.

July 10

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

In Bible times slavery was being practiced and some instructions in the Bible are given to slaves. These words were addressed to slaves. But I believe the principles stated here can be applied to us today. Whether we are employed by an employer or helping others on a voluntary basis, we need to remember that as children of God we are serving Him. Just the activities of living can be considered as being done for his glory. And He is faithful in rewarding those who live for His glory.