Romans 8:12-17
Scripture (Romans 8:12-17 ESV): “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Devotion:
Imagine discovering that you’ve been named an heir in the will of a king, promised not only a vast inheritance but also an invitation to live as part of the royal family. This is not just fantasy, that’s exactly what happens when we are adopted into God’s family by faith. Paul reminds us that we are not debtors to our old ways (“the flesh”) but have been given a new identity and inheritance through the Spirit.
What does it mean to live by the Spirit? Is it conforming to a strict set of rules, like the one’s the Pharisees had? Is it about making sure we tick all the boxes of being God’s children? No! The picture Paul paints for us isn’t one of a terrified child obeying an angry God-Father. No, Paul tells us that our relationship with God is that of a beloved child who can cry out “Abba! Father!”. I have always hated when people pray “Daddy God”, instead of “Father God”. Maybe this is because I am old-school. Maybe it is because I was brought up in a particular culture. But actually, this is exactly what this phrase “Abba Father” indicates. It is a term of deep affection a child might have for his or her dad. When we are adopted into God’s family, our adoption sweeps away any idea of God being distant or impersonal and replaces it with the warmth and security of belonging to a loving family. As difficult and cringey as it might be for me to hear, we are actually right in praying to Daddy God.
But there’s more to this relationship than comfort and security. As God’s children, we’re also heirs with Christ. This inheritance includes blessings and responsibilities. We are blessed because we are in God’s family, we share eternal life, we get to live for him. But we may also be called to “suffer with him.” This isn’t suffering for its own sake but sharing in Christ’s sufferings as we live for Him and stand for His values in a world that often rejects them. This is becoming more and more necessary for Christian’s today, especially in the western world.
But suffering is not the end. Suffering ends in glory. Just as we share in Jesus’ inheritance, just as we share in his suffering, so too we share in his glory! This gives us hope and strength in our current struggles. This reminds us that our suffering isn’t hopeless or meaningless, but that they are shaping us to be more and more like Jesus. This is something we can thank God for!
Have you thanked Daddy God for allowing you to suffer?
Prayer:
Abba Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of being Your child and heir. Help me to live not as a slave to fear but as a son or daughter who knows the love and security of Your family. Empower me by Your Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body, living a life that reflects my true identity in You. Give me strength in times of suffering, keeping my eyes on the promise of glory that awaits with Christ. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge for the Day:
Reflect on what it means to be an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ today. Consider one area of your life where you might be living more in line with the “flesh” than in the freedom and responsibility of your true identity. What does it look like to live as a child of God in this area? Take a practical step towards that today, whether it’s in your attitudes, your actions, or how you interact with others, and let this be a testament to the transformation God is working in you.