Friday *24. Often we will make a love-list for someone precious in our lives to celebrate a milestone or occasion. Make your own “Things I Love About You” list for the Father. And then make another one: “Things I Love About the Way You Love Me.”
Things I love about You…
I love that You are sovereign.
I love Your forgiveness.
I love that You are my Abba.
I love that You will never leave me or forsake me.
I love that You are never changing.
Things I love about the way You love me.
His sovereignty because I know He is in control of all circumstances.
His forgiveness so I may be reconciled to Him, a repaired relationship.
That He is my Abba so I don’t have a spirit of fear but rather I have His Spirit.
That He will never leave me or forsake me because in suffering I know He will always be by my side.
That He is never changing because He’s the same God today as He was yesterday.
25. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
I’m still not sure the position of adoption in relation to justification has quite sunk in. I know that justification is legal and adoption is relational but doesn’t justification have to take place first. I do believe that He chose me but still trying to sort it all out.
Monday (finishing up) 7. Adopton is not just a legal reality but a living reality. How will you spend your “bank account” today?
Not quite sure I understand this. I want to be in right standing with Him and I already am, I’m His child, He has sanctified me so I guess I just want to bask in what He’s done for me and realize that I’m filled with His Spirit and am no longer “spirit” filled. I can live in victory!
*8. Read Galatians 4:4-6. A. How is this passage like our passage this week? How is it different?
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”“God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
The adoption is the same but Romans speaks of fear.
B. Who is doing the crying in each passage?
We are. C. How closely does the Spirit testify with our spirit? And what is His testimony?
They are joined together. His testimony is that we are His children. D. Can you think of something else you would rather Him testify to you? Something stronger or bigger or better?
That no matter what I do He will never let me go.
And too am pondering spending the bank account, but I thought your answers were wonderful. I think a moment to moment awareness of His leading so I can follow in His footsteps.
21. Read Romans 8:12-17 again and share anything new that pops out for you today.
I read it using The Message translation. These things stood out: “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” Eugene Peterson did a good job with the translation of the Greek meaning of Abba, I think. Greeting God with a “childlike” (not childish) “Papa”. Peterson also translated our old nature like this: “We don’t owe this old do it yourself life one red cent. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life.” That’s an interesting way to put it, to put to death the misdeeds of the body. And then not to live a “grave tending life”. Once you “bury” your old nature, leave it behind.
22. This passage keeps addressing sons. Why should women want to be called sons and not want the translation changed?
Paige explained that in keeping with the Roman culture of the day, it was the son who inherited everything, who had all the legal rights. So we’re not to look at this as language that is excluding of women, but in fact, to be a woman and have all the rights of a son is a good thing.
23. Read Romans 8:15.
A. How does verse 15 show our access?
We received the Spirit of sonship. Not a slave, not a servant, but a son. A son has access to his father.
B. Ponder this privilege of adoption. Why is it that everyone does not have this? See Isaiah 59:2.
Not every person is a child of God. Until sin is dealt with, a person’s sin separates them from God.
C. What are your most frequent topics of prayer? Could you be wiser? If so, how?
I pray for other people who have needs for prayer, for some of my patients who are really in need of healing, for protection for family and friends, for salvation for those who do not know Him. I don’t pray a lot for myself, which I could; not for things, but for God to grow and mature me, to help sink truth into my heart. Sometimes I pray that God will send believers into the lives of my children.
D. What does Hebrews 12:5-6 tell us? Do you think of this as a privilege? Why is it?
It tells us that the Lord rebukes, disciplines, and punishes those who are His sons. Well, I can think of a time in my life when I felt His discipline and I am thankful today that He did not let me continue on the path I was going, but helped me to turn around, because the end of that path would have been disaster for me.
E. God pours out judgments on the earth in Revelation. Unbelievers are hardened and believers are refined. How do you respond to suffering in your life? What does it reveal about your view of God?
I think (and I hope) I am learning, as I get older, that God is not a means to an end, but that He is the end. I am learning to respond with less time spent in a pity party or despair, and instead, to find the glimmer of hope. With God, I always have hope.
F. The Lord accepts us and enjoys us simply because we are His. Did you experience this from a parent? Do you believe this is how God sees you?
Yes, I experienced the love of my mom and dad. I know that they enjoyed being with me and my family. I am starting to believe it more that God accepts me and enjoys me because I am His child.
24. I remember doing this for both of my parents when they turned 85….I came up with a list of 85 reasons why I loved each of them and gave it to them for their birthday.
25. What is your take-away this week and why?
Paige really opened up my understanding of being adopted by God, making it downright exciting to think about! I’ve never really focused that much on that. I want to appreciate and understand it more and more, what it means to be able to call God my Father. Maybe it’s because often when I pray, I pray to Jesus, and I don’t think of Jesus as my Father….He’s my Savior, Lord, Friend, Bridegroom….how do you balance out the different roles when you pray?
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Friday
*24. Often we will make a love-list for someone precious in our lives to celebrate a milestone or occasion. Make your own “Things I Love About You” list for the Father. And then make another one: “Things I Love About the Way You Love Me.”
Things I love about You…
I love that You are sovereign.
I love Your forgiveness.
I love that You are my Abba.
I love that You will never leave me or forsake me.
I love that You are never changing.
Things I love about the way You love me.
His sovereignty because I know He is in control of all circumstances.
His forgiveness so I may be reconciled to Him, a repaired relationship.
That He is my Abba so I don’t have a spirit of fear but rather I have His Spirit.
That He will never leave me or forsake me because in suffering I know He will always be by my side.
That He is never changing because He’s the same God today as He was yesterday.
25. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
I’m still not sure the position of adoption in relation to justification has quite sunk in. I know that justification is legal and adoption is relational but doesn’t justification have to take place first. I do believe that He chose me but still trying to sort it all out.
Sharon, love your love list!
Monday (finishing up)
7. Adopton is not just a legal reality but a living reality. How will you spend your “bank account” today?
Not quite sure I understand this. I want to be in right standing with Him and I already am, I’m His child, He has sanctified me so I guess I just want to bask in what He’s done for me and realize that I’m filled with His Spirit and am no longer “spirit” filled. I can live in victory!
*8. Read Galatians 4:4-6.
A. How is this passage like our passage this week? How is it different?
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”“God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
The adoption is the same but Romans speaks of fear.
B. Who is doing the crying in each passage?
We are.
C. How closely does the Spirit testify with our spirit? And what is His testimony?
They are joined together. His testimony is that we are His children.
D. Can you think of something else you would rather Him testify to you? Something stronger or bigger or better?
That no matter what I do He will never let me go.
I too love your love list.
I too am pondering adoption before justification.
And too am pondering spending the bank account, but I thought your answers were wonderful. I think a moment to moment awareness of His leading so I can follow in His footsteps.
I think a moment to moment awareness of His leading so I can follow in His footsteps.
This is good Dee, thanks!
21. Read Romans 8:12-17 again and share anything new that pops out for you today.
I read it using The Message translation. These things stood out: “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” Eugene Peterson did a good job with the translation of the Greek meaning of Abba, I think. Greeting God with a “childlike” (not childish) “Papa”. Peterson also translated our old nature like this: “We don’t owe this old do it yourself life one red cent. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life.” That’s an interesting way to put it, to put to death the misdeeds of the body. And then not to live a “grave tending life”. Once you “bury” your old nature, leave it behind.
22. This passage keeps addressing sons. Why should women want to be called sons and not want the translation changed?
Paige explained that in keeping with the Roman culture of the day, it was the son who inherited everything, who had all the legal rights. So we’re not to look at this as language that is excluding of women, but in fact, to be a woman and have all the rights of a son is a good thing.
23. Read Romans 8:15.
A. How does verse 15 show our access?
We received the Spirit of sonship. Not a slave, not a servant, but a son. A son has access to his father.
B. Ponder this privilege of adoption. Why is it that everyone does not have this? See Isaiah 59:2.
Not every person is a child of God. Until sin is dealt with, a person’s sin separates them from God.
C. What are your most frequent topics of prayer? Could you be wiser? If so, how?
I pray for other people who have needs for prayer, for some of my patients who are really in need of healing, for protection for family and friends, for salvation for those who do not know Him. I don’t pray a lot for myself, which I could; not for things, but for God to grow and mature me, to help sink truth into my heart. Sometimes I pray that God will send believers into the lives of my children.
D. What does Hebrews 12:5-6 tell us? Do you think of this as a privilege? Why is it?
It tells us that the Lord rebukes, disciplines, and punishes those who are His sons. Well, I can think of a time in my life when I felt His discipline and I am thankful today that He did not let me continue on the path I was going, but helped me to turn around, because the end of that path would have been disaster for me.
E. God pours out judgments on the earth in Revelation. Unbelievers are hardened and believers are refined. How do you respond to suffering in your life? What does it reveal about your view of God?
I think (and I hope) I am learning, as I get older, that God is not a means to an end, but that He is the end. I am learning to respond with less time spent in a pity party or despair, and instead, to find the glimmer of hope. With God, I always have hope.
F. The Lord accepts us and enjoys us simply because we are His. Did you experience this from a parent? Do you believe this is how God sees you?
Yes, I experienced the love of my mom and dad. I know that they enjoyed being with me and my family. I am starting to believe it more that God accepts me and enjoys me because I am His child.
24. I remember doing this for both of my parents when they turned 85….I came up with a list of 85 reasons why I loved each of them and gave it to them for their birthday.
25. What is your take-away this week and why?
Paige really opened up my understanding of being adopted by God, making it downright exciting to think about! I’ve never really focused that much on that. I want to appreciate and understand it more and more, what it means to be able to call God my Father. Maybe it’s because often when I pray, I pray to Jesus, and I don’t think of Jesus as my Father….He’s my Savior, Lord, Friend, Bridegroom….how do you balance out the different roles when you pray?
Thanks for bringing the Message to us and Peterson’s take on Abba — love this: “What’s next, Papa?”