Learning Sonship

One of the greatest difficulties in Christian thinking is how to live as a son/daughter of God rather than a servant. It seems as though we understand how to return to the Father as the prodigal son (let me be like one of your hired servants), but really struggle with wearing the robe and the ring.

It seems to me that I'm continually learning that my relationship with God has nothing to do with what I do but who I am. Think about it: Jesus took the time to teach us the story that is commonly referred to as the "Prodigal Son." In this story we read about a young man who wasted his inheritance, became broken/destitute, and determined to return to his father to live with him as a slave. Thankfully, the father had other things in mind. "Let me live as one of your hired servants" has a nice ring to it but falls way short of where the Father wants to take us. It is His determined purpose that each of us reign as sons and daughters in His kingdom.

It's when we come into this understanding that we must ask ourselves a question: Do I want to build a brilliant working relationship with God or do I want to know what it means to live in friendship? Far too many are building a working relationship but possess a lousy friendship with God. Abraham was called the friend of God. David earned the title of one who was a man after God's own heart. Each of these men lived under a different covenant than what we get to live in.

Jesus paid an incredible price to bring us into relationship. You may not feel as though you deserve Him, but He deserves you. And what you and I need to come to grips with is that He isn't simply looking for servants. He's looking for those who would LOVE the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength. Jesus never said that God was looking for servants but that God is seeking out worshipers. Is that you?

I happen to think that most of Christianity works from the mindset that says: "Well...I messed up. I'm not very good at sonship so if God could just use me as one of His servants then maybe everything will be o.k." But if we understand the story of the "prodigal" then we must realize that the Father is always waiting to restore us within this relationship. He's always seeking to give us everything that is a part of the kingdom. He has dealt with our sin once and for all at the cross. Now He is dealing with us according to righteousness. Yes...there are times that we blow it as His children. Let's go ahead and deal with that. The good news is that we still have access to a throne of grace where we can obtain grace and mercy. How is that possible? It is possible through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

Jesus turned to His disciples one day and said, "I no longer call you servants but friends." He went on to explain that a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But it has been given to each and every one of us to know what the Master is doing in the kingdom. We have been declared joint-heirs with Christ. Can you see how the relationship has changed. We are more than servants of the Most High. We are children of the King!!!

So...you blow it from time to time. Don't wallow around in it. Learn to pick yourself up from where you are and go to the Father. He's always waiting for us to return to Him. Grace gives you the ability to say "Abba, I blew it. I really want to live for you." He's not standing there to condemn you because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. He's longing to restore you. He wants you to know the joy that is His. He wants you to walk in the abundant life that He has promised. He wants you to be aware of the righteousness that is yours in Christ. You can actually get up, dust yourself off by His grace, and walk as a child that belongs to the Father.

Learn to live as a son/daughter of God. Don't try to build a relationship with the Father through your ministry or service to God because it falls way shore of what the Father wants to do in your life. Learn to establish this relationship upon His grace, His unconditional love, and His redemptive purpose. Discover what it means to be fully forgiven, completely righteous, and unconditionally loved. Live from that mindset. And enjoy your place in the Father's heart.