SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
First Steps
The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. — Romans 8:16
Read:
Romans
8:14-17
A friend stopped me the other day with some
exciting news and then spent 10 minutes describing for me the first steps of
her 1-year-old nephew. He could walk! Later I realized how bizarre we might
have sounded to an eavesdropper. Most people can walk. What was the big deal?
It struck me that childhood provides a quality
of specialness that nearly vanishes for the rest of life. Thinking about our
treatment of children gave me further appreciation for the fact that God
chooses the word picture of “children” to describe our relationship with Him. The
New Testament announces that we are God’s children, with all the rights and
privileges of worthy heirs (Rom. 8:16-17). Jesus (the “one and only” Son of
God) came, we’re told, to make possible our adoption as sons and daughters in
God’s family.
I imagine God views each halting step forward
in my spiritual “walk” with the eagerness of a parent watching a child take
that very first step.
Perhaps when the secrets of the universe are
finally revealed, we will learn an underlying purpose of watching children
grow. It may be that God has granted us these times of specialness to awaken us
to His infinite love. Of the fullness of that love, our experiences here on
earth are mere glimpses.
Loving heavenly
Father, increase our awareness of Your love for us and Your delight in us so we
can show the world the difference You make in our lives.
You are loved.
INSIGHT:
Notice in today’s Bible reading the extensive
nature of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that the Spirit leads
us as God’s children (v. 14), enables us through adoption to call God our
Father (v. 15), and affirms God’s saving work in our hearts (v. 16). It is one
of the truly great passages in the New Testament on the work of the Spirit in
our lives—and one we should celebrate! Bill Crowder
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015