Servanthood or Sonship

Photo: Danka Peter

My husband and I begin each new year by praying together and waiting on God for His direction for the year. He always gives us a slogan or theme. This year it is Preparing for More in 2-0-1-4! It is exciting, because this is our 8th year of pastoring this church family and eight is the number of New Beginnings.

It has been a personal 8-year journey for us on a pathway of Sonship. We have slowly come to understand the difference between being a 'servant' of God verses being a 'child' of God, which we call Sonship.

In this short blog, I can't possibly cover all we've learned, but it's a journey we are leading our church family on that will ultimately bring them to understand and enjoy truly being a Child of God.

The apostle Paul tried to convey this freeing truth to the people of Ephesus in Ephesians 2:8-10. (From the Judy Translation)

"It's by Grace you've become a child of God - through Faith - and even your Faith was a gift from God. You can't earn salvation by working hard to be good enough - then it would have depended on Your abilities to merit God’s love - this thinking results in 'Self-Righteousness'. No! It doesn't work that way! We are God’s workmanship, created to become His children through the 'Righteousness of Christ Jesus' - and as a result we still do good works, which God Prepared in advance for us to do - not because we are trying to earn His love, but because we know we Have His Love!"

In a conversation with my grandson last night, I saw a vivid picture of a father walking out a situation with his son. My grandson had been watching his dad buy cars at an auction, and wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps. However in his haste to get his purchase he didn't take time to check the car out by driving it first - something his dad always did. So, on the way home from the auction the engine blew!

I said, "What did your dad do?"

He said, "My dad helped me by giving me the number of a tow truck and then he made phone calls to repair places and dealers for advice. I lost money on that car, but I sure learned a lot!"

He learned more from his mistake than how to pick a good car for resale. He learned how to be a father by the way he was treated as a son. A servant could lose their position because of a mistake like this, but a Son is a Son Forever.

Blessings,

Pastor Judy