March 13, 2013 (Deuteronomy 22-24, Galatians 4)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “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 NLT
Observation: Before Christ we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the time was right, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the Law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the Law so that He could adopt us as His very own children. It’s though Christ that true freedom is realized. It’s through surrender to Him we gain freedom the world doesn’t understand. It’s through Christ that we are adopted into the family of God.
Application: Being adopted by God is a wonderful thing. And because of the greatness of His gift we must be careful not to take being a child of God for granted. Our freedom in Christ does not afford us the opportunity to do as we please. Just because we have rights of son-ship that does not mean we can live life any way we choose. We are still subject to the standards God has set for His children to live by. We must remain obedient and faithful to Him until the very end. Then, and only then, is our salvation eternal and secure. Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. A branch separated from the vine withers and dies. Yet a branch fully connected to the Vine produces much fruit.
Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes Your words are hard to understand. Sometimes I struggle to understand what You really expect from me. I know I fail in many ways to live according to Your standards, but I am trying to learn of Your ways. Thank You for adopting me! Thank You for Your patience with me. Lord, help me love You the way I should. Plant a seed of obedience within my soul that will produce a crop of faithfulness to You forever, in Jesus name, Amen!