Heir Force

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Galatians 4 (click the link)


KEY PASSAGE:
So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:7, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
How we view ourselves and others has a tremendous impact and influence on how we deal with the circumstances and people that surround our lives.

Paul is speaking to believers in this letter, and is reminding them of who they are in Christ and how their relationship with him should impact their lives. He tells them they were once slaves, but no longer are. They are now children of God, indwelt with the Spirit of the Son. They are heirs. He thanks them for appreciating that of him, and for them treating him as Christ himself (v.14). 

If we can see ourselves as believers for who we are—children of God, heirs in Christ—then we can know the force that is able to overcome the enemy and his schemes. If we can see others as fellow heirs, then we will treat them as such.  Paul reminds his readers they are children of a promise, and this is being fulfilled in them and through them. 

I find that when I slip away from God, and let my relationship with Christ “lapse,” it is usually because I forget who I am. When I forget who others are, not seeing them as fellow heirs or a person loved by God, I tend to be less loving and merciful towards them or their circumstances.

We are many things in our lives. We are children, parents, employees (or employers), brothers or sisters, friends, helpers, mates. But who we are as Christians matters so much more. We are heirs. Fellow heirs with others. We are indwelt with the Spirit. I often struggle with that concept, and how I can falter in my faith and spiritual walk. How can I think what I think, or say what I say, or do what I do sometimes? I think it often has to do with forgetting who I am. I am an Heir. An as an heir, I have the power and force of my FATHER as my sword and as my shield.

When I first got into law enforcement work, and was going through training, I was told by my field training officer to do something which I had doubts I could do.  In telling me to proceed, and somewhat in jest, the officer told me I could because “you are the law.”  I have oft used that phrase in my work, “I am the law” to make a point. 

Well, this passage has reminded me that “I am an heir.” I have the blessing and the benefit of being an heir. Paul doesn't say "I will be an heir." He says "I am an heir." That is how I should see myself, and use that heir force to live and move through my circumstances. 

I am reminded the force is with me. And If I can see others as fellow heirs (or potential heirs), then it can drastically alter or influence how I treat them.


PRAYER:
I pray that we all may know we are children and fellow heirs, and put on not only the full armor, but His full name on our lives. And walk forward in faith and force to have rule and dominion rather than be tossed about. May we all know and more fully accept that we are redeemed and, no longer slaves, and that we have the full rights of sonship.


WHO AM I?
I am Edd Curry. I am the child of a FATHER who knows me and loves me anyway. I am dad to a teenage daughter, and “pack leader” to a four month old Border Collie dog. I’m still debating which is harder to be. I’ve enjoyed many years as a Christ-follower, and have often seen God’s workings in my life. I now find it most interesting to try to “catch God in the act” as he works in my life and in the life of others.