Read
1Children who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though everything their parents own will someday be theirs. 2This is because children are placed in the care of guardians and teachers until the time their parents have set. 3This is how it was with us. We were like children ruled by the powers of this world.
4But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5 so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children. 6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. 7You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.
Reflect
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he writes:
“God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began, God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us. Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends” (2 Timothy 1:9-10).
Today, Christ defeated death and brought us the good news: that we have been set free; that we are saved; and that we are now children of God! On Good Friday, Jesus demonstrated his love for humanity – for you – through his death; but today, through his resurrection, he has taken that love even further and made all who believe in him a part of God’s family forever. How glorious is that?
This amazing truth should permeate our lives, down to the very core of our identities. After all, “if God is on our side, can anyone be against us?” (Romans 8:31b). We are free to live lives as children of God! A child of God is not a slave to anything in this world. A child of God has seen mercy first-hand, and therefore shows mercy to others. A child of God is loved.
“In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love – not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:37-38)
Because he lives, we have hope and a future. Thank you, Jesus!
Respond
Wonderful Father, thank you for your immense kindness and love. Thank you for sending your son to save us and invite us into your family forever. Help us to spread this good news through love, so that your family continues to grow. In your powerful, merciful, and loving name, Amen.
Larissa Benfey
Larissa is a Toronto based actor and writer who has dabbled in everything from scripts to short stories, and is now setting her sights on novels. Having studied English and history at Tyndale University and Seminary, she loves a good story, but her favorite stories always have happy endings - which is part of why she loves the true story of the Gospel so much.