WE BELONG TO HIM

WE BELONG TO HIM In (Romans8:15-17) The Text says”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) . The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are (Children of God), and if Children, then heirs. Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” *--- When I was a little boy, occasionally, my father would take me with him to his job. He would introduce me to the fellows. He would say, with pride” this is my boy, You know, he is a junior, he has my name”. Then he would brag about something I had done. I remember feeling this strange mixture of embarrassment and pride when he would do that. Then occasionally I would look up at pop's face and he would have this huge grin, he would be beaming. I felt when I saw that incredible affirmation and approval I was Crawford's Son. There is a hunger in all of our hearts to belong, to be approved. We want to experience a father's touch and to see his accepting smile, to to know that our fathers accept us and love us. Some of us may not have had this as a child. This may not have been our experience with our earthly fathers. If we belong Christ, then we have perfect, loving, attentive Father. I love these words in Romans8:15;17) when it says” Whom we cry Abba/Father” that could have been translated” Daddy,Daddy,Abba,Father” According to these verses we are Children of God. I happen to be privileged to have a wonderful earthly father, and yet my father was human. He had weaknesses, shortcomings, frailties, and imperfections. No matter how hard tried, he was but a man. But we have a heavenly Father that is perfect, that loves us dearly, and that wants us to call Him ”Abba ,Father,Dad” so to speak. It is true that this world can be very, very cruel, rejection is a part of the down side of our pilgrimage this side of heaven. People don't always treat us right. We are not always accepted by folks. Even in the Christian community we have more than our share of rejection, but we belong to God and all that He has is at our disposal. The Holy Spirit who lives in us is really in a sense, an expression of God our Father's smile, His pleasure. God is proud of you. He loves you. In fact, when He goes with you to work today, He says to others through your life”Hey, this is my child. He has my name. His name is Christian”. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for always loving me and accepting me. Help me live in such a way that others know I am your child. Amen.