So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also
an heir, through God.
Galatians 4:7
Growing up I was one of five children. We lived modestly in a small
house in rural North Carolina. Mom and Dad made sure we had
everything we needed, but there was never extra for vacations or
extravagant purchases.
I would sometimes daydream back then about some rich relative,
unknown to us, who would leave us their fortune. While the rich relative
never materialized, what I inherited is more valuable than any treasure
I could have dreamed up back then--my faith and trust in God.
In God Has a Dream, Desmond Tutu begins his book with “Dear Child of
God,” a phrase he uses throughout as a reminder of our identity. With that
identity, he reminds us of how deeply God loves us and believes in us.
The son of God lived on earth in stark contrast to how we would expect
a king and their heirs to live. So what might our inheritance look like?
I think that being a child of God means inheriting the character of
Jesus – his peace, wholeness, justice, compassion, kindness, joy, hope
and above all, love.
There is immense freedom in the knowledge that God loves us and
believes in us. No one can take that away from you and me, though at
times the bondage of hate and evil and despair may try.
Dear Child of God, you are no longer a slave. Live freely in God’s love.
Loving God, it is with much humility and gratitude that we come before you
as your children, heirs to your kingdom. Remind us daily of the freedom you
provide to be fully who you created us to be. Help us embrace our inheritance
by adopting the character of Jesus, the Son of God.
Patty Cline serves as Director of Advancement at Liberty Lutheran.
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