
FREE continued
What we do comes from who we are
Luke 15 continues. Consider two pictures:
1. The younger son at the point that he collapses into his father’s arms and casts himself on his mercy. He can scarcely believe his father’s grace as he realizes that, even though he richly deserves it, he will not be punished. He is forgiven.
2. The same son a matter of minutes later when he is dressed in the finest robe, with the ring on his fingers and the sandals on his feet, feasting on the finest food. He is still acutely aware of his past failures, yet he has been not just forgiven, but completely restored to his position as son with free access to everything his father owns.
Question
Which picture most accurately represents how you see yourself in relation to God?
Whether it feels like it or not, the second picture represents you!
In order to live as the Father wants us to, we have to know that we are more than just forgiven. We are completely restored and deep down inside absolutely acceptable - indeed a delight - to God.
You will get halfway through most of Paul’s letters to the churches before you find an instruction on what to do, how to behave. The first half of the letters is all about what has already been done, what you already have, who you now are in Christ. Paul knows that if you grasp that, the rest will flow naturally.
God’s love and acceptance of you is nothing to do with your behavior. But when you stop trying to “act like you think a Christian should act” and just simply live from the truth of who you now are, you’ll behave well!
Bondslaves
In New Testament times, it was very common for Roman masters to free their slaves, but sometimes of their own free will they decided to stay and continue to serve in the household simply because of love for the master.
From the outside what they did day-by-day probably didn’t look very different but there is in fact a world of difference between doing what you do because you were forced to or, as in the case of the elder brother, to gain some future reward - and doing it simply out of love because you make a free choice.
Paul describes himself as “a slave of Christ” (Romans 1:1).
We love our Lord. Therefore:
1. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
2. We give freely because we have received freely (Matthew 10:8b).
3. We are merciful because He has been merciful to us (Luke 6:36).
4. We forgive because we have been forgiven (Ehesians 4:32).
God the Father - looking for relationship
At the start of our experience of Jesus, we know we’re the younger son. We know we need Him.
At that point we’re meant to go on a journey to becoming like the Father but most of us in fact end up going on a journey to become like the elder brother, slaving away for God.
You have a great master. He has some significant works that He has prepared in advance for you to do. He doesn’t force you in any way to do them. He will love you whatever you do. However, as you make a choice to serve Him just because you love Him, you’ll find it becomes a real pleasure to do the work He gives you to do!
Uncovering faulty thinking
Use the lies list below to note down any areas where you realize that your belief system is not quite in line with what God tells us is really true. Note the “lies” down on each blue box below and, if you can, try to find corresponding truths to write in the box as well including the Biblical reference.
Lies list
Write down your faulty thinking (lie) and add God’s corresponding truth
This session may have highlighted lies such as:
1. Wat I have done is too bad for God to forgive me or to accept me back
2. God loves other people, but He can’t really love me.
3. I have to live up to a certain set of standards for God to be pleased with me.
4. God loves me more when I work hard for Him.
Watch the 18:18-minute video now.
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT 3
Why might a bondslave who has been given his freedom choose to remain in his former position, with his master having complete ownership of him and control over him?
Do you feel ready to make a commitment to God to be His bondslave, to serve Him not because you are in any way compelled to but simply because you love Him?
WITNESS
People who don’t yet know God as their Father are like spiritual orphans. What do orphans need? How can I help meet that need?
IN THE COMING WEEK
The story of the two sons turns on the character of the father who, of course, represents God. He is not an inspecting sergeant-major figure looking for us to put a foot wrong. Jesus portrays a father who longs to fellowship with his sons. He runs to meet the younger son. He goes out to plead with the older son.
Sometimes we never knew our father. This makes it difficult to know God as the perfect Father. He is because we tend to project our experiences onto Him. Use the My Father God statements overleaf every day this week (and for as long as it takes after that) to renounce lies that you may believe and joyfully affirm what is really true about Him.
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