The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Rom. 8:16)
A COUPLE IN OUR CIRCLE of acquaintances recently adopted a daughter. A sweet girl in elementary school, she had already lived an unbelievably difficult life. Her new home provides her with many advantages over what she would have had if she had remained in her previous situation. Shuttled from one foster care home to another, she was happy to be placed with new, permanent parents who love her unconditionally.
We, too, have the incredible privilege of being adopted—welcomed into God’s family, where we are loved unconditionally. Paul refers to our being children of God or to His being our Father no less than five times in four verses.
Jesus told a group of self-righteous leaders, “You belong to your father, the devil” (John 8:44). The contrast could not be more stark between what we once were and what we are now. We have truly come from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of light (Col. 1:12–13). We are no longer enemies of God, but now we are reconciled to Him (Rom. 5:10).
And, to make it deeply personal, “the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” He gives us assurance deep in our inner consciousness that God is our Father and we are His beloved children. As we continue to live in the Spirit, we bask in the Father-child relationship.
Reflect on and give thanks for your standing as a child of God.
Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife Carol. He has written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than twenty-nine years.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
