child of promise

 “Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.” Galatians 4:21-23

My child,

Christ came to earth to buy your freedom. You were an orphan, enslaved to sin. But I wanted to give you a place in my forever family. You could not initiate your own adoption. That task was in my hands. I am holy – perfectly whole, without flaw. Despite your deficiencies and weaknesses, when you accepted Christ’s gift of his life, you were made holy and wholly mine.

Sometimes, though, you feel malnourished because you forget the things of this world are empty and useless to satisfy the famine in your soul. They will just leave a dead taste in your mouth and a swelling hunger in your heart.

I can nourish you … today and forever.

Don’t try to earn favor with me by keeping the rules. You are not a child of the law but a child of my divine promise. I want you to follow me because we love each other and are family. All my thoughts, plans, words and actions are perfect. Follow me because I am your perfect Father. You can trust what I say and do, because it is impossible for me to mess up.

Abraham had two sons, one with his slave and one with his wife. The son of the slave was born in an attempt to force the consummation of what was wanted. But the son of his wife was born as the fulfillment of my promise.

 You are a child of the promise, just like Isaac.  Don’t live like Ishmael, the child born by human effort. Live like Isaac, the child born by the power of my Spirit. That is who you are.

I love you,

Abba

My Abba,

How absurd it is to subsist like a deprived orphan when I am a child of the King of Kings. I don’t want to ever walk through my day like an unloved vagabond. By birthright, I know that is not who I am.

I want to experience the privilege of my position in your family. I want to savor every spiritual blessing at your banquet table. I want to bask in the beauty of your presence and the richness of your love.

I long to be a child who sees, listens, and speaks in a way that reminds others I belong to you. I want people in my life to notice a family resemblance.

Please help me to see others more the way you see them. I know if I am walking this path with you, day by day, I will take on more of your characteristics. I am impacted by the company I keep.

Please empower me by your Spirit to live in an obedience to you that is born of our love.

I love you,

Mollie

photo: kavram