Thursday, July 28, 2011

Family Connection 07.28.2011

Family Connection

07.28.2011

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘ABBA, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”-Romans 8:15-17
At the end of the book The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, the main character Shasta finds out that he is not the orphaned boy he thought he was but is the oldest son of the King of Archenland and heir to the throne. Shasta had spent his entire life being raised by an abusive fisherman as little more than a slave. When Shasta gets to Archenland he expects to be dismissed but instead is embraced by the King, his real father, and treated like royalty. In an instant, Shasta goes from an orphaned slave to the son of the King and heir to the throne. From that point on, Shasta’s life is forever changed.
This storyline is repeated in many different books but it is always exciting to see someone rise from obscurity to their true place of honor. We thrive on these types of stories and children’s books are full of this theme; it’s even possible that you may have wondered what life would be like for you if you faced something like this. Well, if you have asked Jesus to come into your life and save you from your sins; you are living that life right now because you are a joint-heir with Christ and an heir of God!
If you have never read The Horse and His Boy to the children in your life you might consider doing so in order to help them understand this wonderful truth of how we can and should live life in Christ. Just as people would shudder if Shasta put on his old slave rags and went back to his old life, we should shudder if we pick up our old ways and live in the slavery of sin we used to before we accepted Christ and made Him Lord of our lives. This is a wonderful truth that Paul unveils for us throughout the entire book of Romans. Even though some of the concepts might be a bit over the heads of the children in your lives, I would encourage you to read through Romans with them as well. You might learn something together.
My prayer for each of us is that we can live our lives as a living, breathing example of Jesus to our children and the people around us. I hope you have a wonderful week and God gives you opportunities to glorify Him as you go through your days.
Walking by your side,
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H

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