Faith – 2016-11-11
Fear-mongers and worry-mongers invade our lives at every opportunity and so often steal our joy, if only for a moment. This verse jumped out at me this morning… we DO NOT have the spirit of bondage! We do not have to be slaves to fear and worry! We are adopted children of God and can cry out ABBA, Father…
ABBA, Father… ABBA was a term of endearment, it portrays trust; whereas Father is more formal, more a portrayal of respect and intellect. There are a lot of in depth studies on these, but those that speak of ABBA – speaking to our heart – endearment and trust; and Father as speaking to our intellect – providing wisdom; resonates with me.
Faith is in the Bible 389 times… do you think it might be of significance? So, if placing your faith in God frees you from a spirit of bondage to fear… is it possible to measure our faith (or lack of) by the amount of fear and worry we are in bondage to?
Freedom from bondage… I remember the story of the donkey in the well that I told over and over again to our children: our physical circumstances matter little, whereas our spiritual and emotional circumstances matter greatly. Fear-mongering, worry-mongering do not need to bury us – shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up.
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12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8