September 18
Galatians 3:23-4:31
Everyone loves a good transformation story. The underdog becoming a champion, an outcast becoming the prom king, or the poor person becoming wealthy all make for powerful tales. Yet this transformation story is not only found in movies or books, but is true of us as well. It is the powerful message of Galatians 4. The truth that we have been transformed.
Our autobiography is we have been changed from slaves to sons. We are no longer alienated from God but have been brought near as his children. As his kids we are now full heirs of everything he has. This is our identity. Since we are “sons of God”, we are “clothed…with Christ”, we are “Abraham’s seed, and heirs,” we become a new people. We become eternal members of God’s family and now are to represent that in the way we live. For Paul’s original audience this meant moving from a rigid adherence to the law, which was only meant to “lead us to Christ,” and instead live by the Spirit. We have moved from slaves to God’s children and therefore, must put away our old clothing and walk in our new way. There were people in the church who were constantly trying to re-enslave them in their old ways, but to listen to these ideas was to fail to understand who they now were. In the same way, as God’s children we are to listen to God’s voice and live in our new relationship with him.
Father God, thank you that you have adopted me into your family and help me to live in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen.
How does an understanding of your identity as a child of God affect the way you live?
Everyone loves a good transformation story. The underdog becoming a champion, an outcast becoming the prom king, or the poor person becoming wealthy all make for powerful tales. Yet this transformation story is not only found in movies or books, but is true of us as well. It is the powerful message of Galatians 4. The truth that we have been transformed.
Our autobiography is we have been changed from slaves to sons. We are no longer alienated from God but have been brought near as his children. As his kids we are now full heirs of everything he has. This is our identity. Since we are “sons of God”, we are “clothed…with Christ”, we are “Abraham’s seed, and heirs,” we become a new people. We become eternal members of God’s family and now are to represent that in the way we live. For Paul’s original audience this meant moving from a rigid adherence to the law, which was only meant to “lead us to Christ,” and instead live by the Spirit. We have moved from slaves to God’s children and therefore, must put away our old clothing and walk in our new way. There were people in the church who were constantly trying to re-enslave them in their old ways, but to listen to these ideas was to fail to understand who they now were. In the same way, as God’s children we are to listen to God’s voice and live in our new relationship with him.
Father God, thank you that you have adopted me into your family and help me to live in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen.
How does an understanding of your identity as a child of God affect the way you live?
Recent
Archive
2026
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
March
Categories
no categories
No Comments