We did not choose Him.  He chose us to become His.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.”  (John 15:16 NIV)

Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  If was fulfilled when He cried out, “IT IS FINISHED!”

“Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2), and one of the vital benefits of Jesus’ finished work is our adoption into God’s family as sons and daughters.  His precious blood washed and cleansed all our unrighteousness that we may be able to come boldly before the throne of grace without hesitation.  He gave us back our confidence that we will always be heard and answered every time we call upon Our Daddy God.  He reconciled us back into our Heavenly Father’s embrace, forever welcomed and deeply loved.

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:15-17)

Receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior changes our identity.  In Him we become new creations with His divine nature deposited in us by the Holy Spirit.

“Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished.  Behold, everything is fresh and new.  And God has made all things new,  and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 TPT)

As new creations, our new heavenly identity includes being His sons and daughters, therefore called to be heirs of His Kingdom.  All that Jesus has, we have, for He called us to be co-heirs with Christ.  Unless the Holy Spirit reveals this new identity in our hearts, we will not be able to walk in it.  What He reveals, we are positioned to own and possess.  We need to renew our thinking by His Word for transformation in our lives to take place and enjoy.

No one can bring change to one’s own life successfully and effortlessly apart from being in union with Christ.  No one knows his own self.  Only God knows us intimately that even the number of hairs on our head, He knows.  He knows when we go to sleep and when we get up.  He knows even our needs before we ask them.  He is our Heavenly Father Who desires for us to know Him, what kind of a Father He is and who we are before His very eyes as His children.

“Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir.”  (Galatians 4:7)

You see, when Adam gave in to the serpent at the Garden of Eden, his allegiance shifted.  He was spiritually separated from God.  As a result, anyone who is born into this world become a slave to sin.  No one taught us to sin, but there is a force present in this fallen world that gears us to sin.  Have you ever thought that there is resistance to do what is right?  Hmmm …

This is the reason why we need to be “born again”.  Our first birth is to be born into this world.  Our second birth is to be “born again” in the spirit, in which our spirit was once separated from God at the fall.  This is the restoration of our identity to be adopted into God’s family, to be His sons and daughters once again.

“And so that we would know for sure that we are His true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts—moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father!   You’re our true Father!”  Now we’re no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God’s very own sons and daughters! And because we’re His, we can access everything our Father has—for we are heirs of God through Jesus, the Messiah!  Before we knew God as our Father and we became His children, we were unwitting servants to the powers that be, which are nothing compared to God.  But now that we truly know Him and understand how deeply we’re loved by Him, why would we, even for a moment, consider turning back to those weak and feeble principles of religion, as though we were still subject to them?

The best Father-Son story for me is the Parable of the Lost Son.  I love how The Passion Translation titled it … “The Loving Father”.

A certain man had two sons.  The younger of them asked his portion from his father.  This in itself is already an insult for getting his inheritance while his father is still alive, yet the father gave it to him.  He journeyed to a far country and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.  To cut the long story short, when he came to his senses, he decided to go back to his father even as a hired servant, for he thought he was no longer worthy to be called a son. 

“So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home. So the father raced out to meet him. He swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love.

Then the son said, ‘Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be—’

The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’

Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes  you can find for my son.  Let’s prepare a great feast and celebrate.  For this beloved son of mine was once dead, but now he’s alive again. Once he was lost, but now he is found!’ And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy.” (Luke 15:20-24 TPT)

I believe this is how our Heavenly Father feels when we come home for the very first time by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in our lives Whom He sent to save us.  More so, a celebration is at hand, just as what Jesus said, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”  (Luke 15:7)

This is how our Heavenly Father restores our identity not only as sons and daughters, but heirs and co-heirs with Christ.  Notice, the father did not just receive the prodigal son into his arms, but he gave him back the robe, the ring and the shoes.  A total restoration happened and his return was greatly celebrated.

For me, even every time we remember to get into His presence, it delights Him.  We know that He is always with us, but to acknowledge and be aware that He is with us get us into a deeper intimacy and fellowship with Him.  A face to face and faith to faith divine encounter with Him always postures us to know Him more.

“The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for being a GOOD, GOOD Father! Thank You for seeing us through the eyes of Your great love, worthy of giving us Your only begotten and beloved Son. Thank You that Your arms are continuously wide open to receive us anytime, anywhere.  Thank You, Jesus, for being The Way for us to come to the Father and know Him through You.  Thank You for paying the steep price by Your precious blood that we can confidently draw near without guilt, shame and condemnation, and be welcomed, loved and celebrated.  Thank You, Holy Spirit for bearing witness into our spirits, revealing to us who we truly are.  Thank You for opening our eyes to see what it means to be sons and daughters of the Most High God.  Amen!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, DADDY GOD!

Happy Father’s Day to all Dads!

 

Photo Credits:  Donna BP  🙂