27Dec2013- Children of Promise

How you doin? So I dropped the soap in my shower this morning. In an attempt to avoid the soap hitting my foot, I jerked it out of the way. I jerked it right into the side of the tub, pins first. Stacey and I both believe that the pin in my 3rd toe went in further. Needless to say, I'm not feeling great. Please pray for this pain to subside. Galatians 4.

Verses 1-7, "What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! Right out of the gates. I try not to quote blocks of Scripture like this, but I couldn't figure out any verses to leave off. I could have easily highlighted verses 3-5 as well 6 & 7. I love verses about identity. I am no longer a slave to the "elemental spiritual forces of the world". I can't say much about that except thank you, "yes", & "amen". What an outstanding promise this is.

Verses 21-31 are mind blowing. I pray that you will read this entire chapter on your own today. It is truly a gift. At least to me. Verse 23, "His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise." Isaac was born from a "divine promise". WOW!!!!!!! Isaac was some kind character in the Bible. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are Jesus' genetic line as well as ours. Verse 24, "These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar." This is what I want to avoid. This believe that I am a slave to flesh, "elemental spiritual forces of the world", or to the law. Verse 26, "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." This verse continues on to quote Isaiah 54:1. Two mothers, two covenants.

Verses 28-31, "Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” ³¹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." I love God's truth's. I love His promises that are made "yes" because of Jesus. AWESOME!!!!!!! I love being free. Isaac's son Jacob wrestled with God in his persistent pursuit of God's blessing. It's in my genes to want blessing and favor from God. I often argue that addiction is not genetic. This Scripture will be my new source of evidence. I've always wondered why it's so important to read all of the genealogy of Jesus. Now I know. There are two mothers. Slave mother and free mother. Old covenant and new covenant. COME ON!!!!!!! I'm genetically inclined to be free. That's a good word. Be a son/daughter of "divine promise" today.