March 13, 2008

• Welcome Home

  I listened to a good message recently from Pastor Judah Smith (Generation Church) entitled, “When Grace Embraces You.”  He shared how many Christians have the same mentality as the prodigal son, that our relationship with God is not father/son but rather boss/employee or master/servant.  We consider our value before God based on our works.  If we sin, we feel God is upset with us and does not want to fellowship with us.  We feel, “no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21).  The thing is, we are sons by BIRTH, not by worth!!!

  While you were growing up, whenever you would come home from school or from being with a friend, did you have to knock on the door in order for your parents to let you in?  Or did you walk right in?  While growing up, whenever you were thirsty and opened the refrigerator, did you first have to ask before getting something to drink?  “Dad, do you think I’ve been good enough… that maybe… you could spare me… a glass of milk?”  No.  Because we are sons and daughters we automatically have the privileges of entering the house freely and eating and drinking the food in the house.  You can’t earn those privileges, you can only receive them through birth. 

  So it is with children of God.  When we confess our faith in Christ and submit our lives to Him, we become a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17).  We are covered in His grace and He now looks to us with favor and open arms because we are His children.  We can’t earn this, we can only receive it through birth.

  John 1:12 – Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to be called children of God.”

  • 3:02 am
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