Heirs Of The Father

Heirs Of The Father

You should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him “Father, dear Father.” For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. –Romans 8:15-17

My brother, Tom, was adopted when I was in the second grade, and he is one of the best things that ever happened to our family. I can’t help but think about how much it has meant to have Tom in our family when I read Romans 8. I am reminded of how beautiful it is when a child is lovingly taken in by a family and bonds at a heart level. To think that God has seen our neediness and made us his very own children by adopting us into his family, with all of its rights and privileges! Now we can be at home with God, free from fear and insecurity, filled with tenderness toward our Father and dependent upon him so that it is only natural to call him “Daddy.” The Holy Spirit enables us to talk to God this way, as he whispers assurances deep inside us that we are truly his child. One day by God’s grace we, along with our brother, Jesus, will inherit everything God has for us.

Yesterday Tom called to tell me I owe him thirty dollars for my share of taking our dad out to eat for Father’s Day. He lives near my parents and is always taking them out, helping them with projects, and doing all the other stuff the in-town kid is called on to do, so he likes to tell me and my sister that the eventual inheritance my parents leave is not going to be split evenly three ways! He’s making his claim for the bigger share because he’s done more than his share of parent care! (But you’re really just kidding, right Tom?) I must admit that even though I haven’t had the hassles or hardship, the inheritance sounds good. I suppose the truth is, I want the inheritance without the hardship.

Paul tells us that part of belonging to God’s family is a willingness to share in both glory and suffering. You must be willing to suffer, not just as a victim of circumstances, but as one who chooses to endure persecution and hardship for the sake of the Kingdom. It is a result of obeying Christ in hard ways, ways that result in not just suffering, but sharing in his suffering by our identification with him. It is the painful privilege of being God’s child, the hardship that comes with the inheritance.

Brother Jesus, I confess that I want the inheritance without the hardship. I look forward to sharing in your glory, but I’m slow to share in your suffering. Give me the family courage and commitment so I can suffer and reign with you.

DIGGING DEEPER