Sons of God

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  - Romans 8:14-16

There is a difference between being a babe of God and a son of God.  As with our own children, they are our children because they are born of our seed.  We came together with our wives to form our children and so they are by birthright.  The sons of God also start this way; they are born again once they receive Christ as their Savior.  No longer bound by lineage (Jewish) or the Jewish law, but adopted into the family of Abraham as children of God.  But when do our children become our sons?  Our society says that they are our sons when they are born, but is this really true?  They are our children when they are born, but what identifying characteristics other than physical show them to be our sons?  Are they able or have they decided to make decisions and choices based on what we’ve taught them?  Do others upon seeing their character immediately see that they are our sons? 

If you want to grow in Christ, be led by the Spirit of God.  This following will cause growth and you will no longer be a baby Christian.  It is important to trust in His leadership.  Know that the path might be steep, the ground rocky.  The weather might be rainy, snowy, foggy, or perfect.  But all of it is for your growth!  Jesus' single concern is your development into a consistent, personal, close conversation and knowledge of our Father God.  All the weights and concerns we carry today that do not relate to that do not concern Christ except where He can show Himself, build your faith, and cause you to follow in a more determined and persistent manner.

By being led by the Spirit and following Christ, we can be assured of our growth.  Sometimes growth is awkward, sometimes it is clumsy, sometimes it even hurts, but sometimes it is fun and joyous.  Someone once wrote that "we stay in training because we love our body, not because we hate it".  Likewise, we follow and seek to grow because we love our Lord, who loves us, not because it is a requirement and a must-do. 

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1)  That song, sung at Emmaus, resonates in my mind many times.  When I went on the walk it embarrassed me that everyone would sing it for us, but later, I find myself looking forward to it.  What a privilege it is to have the chance to be called a child of God.  May we take the name with confidence and assurance in who our Father is and may we allow Him to build His character within us.