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Romans 8:15 - No Longer Fearful Slaves But Joyful Children of God.

Romans 8:15 (ESV) For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."

INTRODUCTION

   When a person becomes a Christian, he or she gains all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God's family. One of these outstanding privileges is being led by the Spirit (see Galatians 4:5-6). We may not always feel as though we belong to God, but the Holy Spirit becomes our witness. His inward presence reminds us of who we are and encourages us with God's love (Romans 5:5).
   We are no longer like fearful slaves; instead, we are the Master's children. What a privilege! Because we are God's children, we share in great treasures as co-heirs. God has already given us his best gifts: his Son, his Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life. [Life Application SB 2019]

COMMENTARY PEARL

Liberty of Belonging
   Have you ever been a part of a group whose members made you feel like an outsider? Perhaps when you started a new school, joined a new club, or moved to a new place, you felt the vulnerability of not being seen, known, or accepted. Is this how you feel with God, or do you know him as your tender and caring Father? Do you know how precious you are to him? Do you know the beat of his heart and trust the wisdom of his correction?
   In the kingdom of God, we are family, not outsiders. Not one of us is an outcast in his eyes. He draws in the lonely, and he covers them with the life-giving love of his heart. He is not far-off. He is close, attentive, and incredibly patient. He understands us more fully than we could imagine. Let's lean into his presence and leave behind the fear of being rejected.
   Choose to push past the fear of doing something with people who don't know you well, and know that God, who knows you best, is with you wherever you go! [365 Days of Courage by Sara Perry of Broadstreet Pub]

Complete Access
   Years ago when I was first getting to know Billy Graham, I addressed him as "Dr. Graham."
   But he said, "Don't call me Dr. Graham. Call me Billy."
   That was hard for me to do. It felt too personal. But I finally got around to calling him Billy. His children, though, had a more intimate name for him: Daddy. And his grandchildren called him Daddy Bill. Only his children and grandchildren had the right to address him that way. It was because of their relationship with him.
   As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a relationship with the Creator of the universe. And we have complete access to Him through prayer.
   We are God's children, and He loves us. He wants to hear from us. He wants to talk to us and spend time with us. It's never a drudgery; it's always a delight. And the same should be true for us when we spend time with Him.
   We know from the Scriptures that He is a good Father. For instance, in the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus presented God the Father as a dad who missed his wayward son and longed for his return. Then, when his son made his way back home, he ran to him and threw his arms around him.
   He said, "We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found" (Luke 15:23-24 NLT). This is your Father in Heaven. He's a father who always will be there, a father who listens, a father who loves you.
   In addition, Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!" (John 14:9 NLT). Therefore, if you want to know what the Father in Heaven is like, then look at Jesus.
   Jesus was approachable. Little children were drawn to Him, and He blessed them. Tears streamed down His face as He stood at the grave of His friend Lazarus. In the upper room, He got down on His hands and knees and washed the feet of His disciples, including the feet of Judas Iscariot.
   Maybe you're thinking, "He's the Father in Heaven, but Heaven is so far away. I need someone on earth."
   God is omnipresent, which means that He is present everywhere. And is Heaven really that far away? Perhaps in a sense it is. But in another sense, Heaven is closer than we may realize. Heaven is another dimension. It's a supernatural realm.
   Thus, for the Father in Heaven to step into our world is nothing to Him. Remember, when Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray, He began His model prayer by saying, "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10 NLT).
   God is deeply involved in and deeply concerned about what you're facing right now. If it concerns you, then it concerns Him. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Romans 8:15 - No Longer Fearful Slaves But Joyful Children Of God.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220618-1002.html

Romans 8:14 - SPIRIT LED LIVING.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230808-0940.html

Galatians 4:6-7 - "Abba, Father!"
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240720-1217.html

Revelation 3:20 - An Invitation For Relationship With Divinity.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220506-0938.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/