Who’s Your Daddy?

In the book of Galatians, Paul is attempting to help the church of Galatia recognize that they have fallen prey to a lie, that has somehow convinced them that their relationship with God should be based on the law, and therefore works, and not by grace alone, as Jesus has made possible for all who believe in Him. Here in this key passage at the very start of the chapter, Paul offers these very powerful examples and clarifications:

“What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

Christians today may not be as easily swayed into the types of false narratives that the church of Galatia began believing by the “Jewdiazers” of their day – those so called Jewish Christians who wrongly believed and preached that you must first become a Jew, before you could become a Christian. Still, we as modern day believers do have similar traps that we are susceptible to that are worth being mindful of. The types of traps that we tend to fall into with legalistic thinking and beliefs tend to include performance driven mindsets. Mindsets that are perhaps subconsciously always exhibiting over- sensitivity, envy, being easily intimidated, or trying to out-perform others and prove ourselves in some way. The enemy has found a way to adapt his age-old strategy of lies and misdirection, to accommodate today’s societies and cultures in these ways, but still with the same aim of undermining the truth of God. The truth that our salvation and daily walk of faith, is based on the grace of God, and not of any works.

Think of it this way - If you were an orphan and a man wanted to adopt you as his son or daughter, which of the following would be more meaningful to you as being “proof” that your new father meant it, when he said he wanted to be your father? That there was a legal document signed by every lawyer, judge and powers that be saying so, or that you know in the depth of your heart that the man was truly, your “Abba, Father,” (a.k.a: “Daddy”)? This is the thrust of what Paul’s reminder to the church was back in the day, but perhaps some of us may still need that reminder to really ask ourselves if we have very truly accepted God on such an intimate level.

If you are struggling with the concept of accepting a Holy God as your “Daddy,” you’re not alone. After all, what could such a wonderful and Holy God ever conceivably want or allow someone such as us, so sinful and unworthy, to have that kind of relationship with Him? There is only one answer. That answer is Jesus. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, YOU are, or can be, fully accepted by God the Father, as “Daddy’s” child. No more doubt. No more shame. No condemnation. Just “sonship.” Just “daughtership.”

Let’s Pray:
Lord, help us to realize that it’s time to shake loose any of the lies and deceits that the enemy has shackled us with; unhealthy spirits, attitudes and lifestyles that force us to “earn” and “prove” ourselves to be accepted by our Lord. We make a full out commitment to You, “Abba Father,” to live fully in the grace provided by the sacrifice of Your Son, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus, today and forever! Amen!