the Spirit of God's Son

Monday, February 2, 2009

Daily Office bible readings

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
(Galatians 4:4-7)

Again, Paul comes back to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in this discussion. Enslaved children coming to adoption as sons... this is a very interesting way of describing the Jewish and Gentile condition before and after Christ.

This new life begins with the heart of the children welling up with life and love and thanksgiving and in some way or another spilling over in intimacy, trust, and deepest security to our Father in heaven.

"Daddy!"

"Papa!"

Notice that Paul says, "God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts." Again, our principle story here is the baptism of Jesus. He commits himself to the Father and to his people and immerses himself in the Jordan; coming out of the water the Spirit descends from heaven upon him in the form of a dove, and the voice tears open heaven declaring, "You are my son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased."

It is to this word spoken to us through the life and work and person of Jesus that the believer responds, "Father!" It is only a gracious gift of God that the Spirit hovers over us and begets in us new creation, gives us new life and even the faith to trust and believe.

It is possible, and this is the urgency of Paul's letter, to forsake this freedom and life and trust and love, and return to slavery. To return to trusting in lesser things, the elemental principles of the world, for example, and not in the scandalous love of God for us through his Son. I am so susceptible to this. What about you?

Father in heaven, thank you for loving us. Give us grace to trust you, and forsake everything else in which we so quickly trust for life and peace.