Galatians 4:4-7: Our Intimate Conversations with God
Friday, July 21, 2023
What do our most intimate conversations with God sound like?
As we consider the momentous gift of life given freely by God, we will want to answer this question.
Do our most important conversations with Jesus go where we want them to go?
When we consider that our brother is the Christ, we may want to examine our chats with him.
When we enter into close conversations with the Spirit, do we ask for healing?
And when we consider the depth of the Spirit’s love for us, we will want to visit with her more often.
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
THE MESSAGE Bible gives us these words to reflect on today. We might be more comfortable with the NEW AMERICAN version further below, or we may want to explore another version. If so, the scripture link takes us to drop-down menus and choices. Whatever translation we choose, we have an invitation to consider: when and how and why do we engage in intimate conversation with our God?
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
You are no longer a slave but a child; and if a child, an heir. We might reflect on the images of the life of Christ we have seen over the last few weeks to determine how we see God as our best confidant. As a small child, a boy, a teenager, a young man or an adult? When we do, we might take the opportunity to enter into an intimate conversation with our brother.
Tomorrow, how and when and whom do we praise . . . and why?
Image from: https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-kids-playing-field-tall-grass-image20593865
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