On Bad Days, Remember Who You Are

In our busy lives our relationship with God often becomes dull in our minds, especially when we experience stress and hardship. We look at others and think they are happier, healthier and have more fun. But God wants us to know we have a very special relationship with Him that we should value, and find great encouragement.

In Galatians 3:23-29 we find a comparison of what Israel once had, to what we enjoy in Christ today. They were once “kept in custody under the law,” like children growing up in a wealthy home, managed by guardians and tutors, having little wealth and freedom. The day would come when they would gain much more through Christ. The implication is that we now have full benefits through Jesus, something that no one could gain under the Law. God treats us like His own adopted children, redeemed and given the special, intimate gift of the Holy Spirit.

Next time you are feeling beaten down by life, remember that God has given you a special, mature status before Him: you are His son. It’s a relationship that can’t be bought with money; great possessions will not grant it; power and personal respect cannot extract it; family pedigree does not guarantee it. It is only for those who come to God “through faith in Jesus Christ.”

“Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (4:7)

– Tim Johnson