Thanks daddy…

A very religious man named Saul was busy forcefully inflicting his religion of legalism and bondage when he encountered Jesus.  Saul became Paul.  His religion became one of grace and peace. Freedom. Forgiveness. Love.

A time later Paul wrote a letter to some people in Rome. Ironically, he used Roman legalism to illustrate perhaps one of the most powerful messages in Christianity. That’s quirky!

“Hello you people in Rome.  You need to know the new Spirit you have means you are adopted into the family of God.” Romans 8:15  Adoption, according to Roman law, means the adopted person has full and equal standing with one born into the family.  Exactly and absolutely the same.  In every way.

Perhaps you’ve been chasing after Jesus for a while?  Let this settle on you.  Jesus Christ is the son of God.  In the eyes of the Father, you have exactly and absolutely the same standing as Jesus.  You are loved beyond measure and imagination.  You are loved without exception.  The Father loves you precisely the same as he loves Jesus.

Perhaps you’re still wondering about Jesus?  Paul gets quirky again.  In a Roman court of law, a testimony is pure, absolute truth.  The Spirit of God testifies we are God’s offspring. Romans 8:16  Have you ever felt unloved?  Alone?  Unworthy?  Without value?  By that same Spirit we can call out, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 Abba is an ancient word with no direct translation into English.  The closest we have is “Daddy.”  Whatever definition you may have of “daddy”, perhaps it could change?

Is your understanding of religion laws, legalism and bondage?  How about freedom, forgiveness and love instead?  Thanks Daddy.