Anglican Morning Devotion, 21 June 2021 A.D.
a ministry of the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:1-7 – KJV)
Flesh and blood fathers are important. In fact, next to a mother, they are the most important of all human kin. But we do have a Father that combines both qualities of father and mother into One Personage – God the Father. He gave birth to us through His creative genius beginning at Eden and continuing into the present time. He is the Author of all mortal life. But He is also Author of all who are born of the Spirit. This excludes the greater number of all human beings born upon the face of the earth. It is only in a limited sense that He is Father to all mankind, for His Fatherhood is conditional. He is Father to all in the sense of being their Maker, but He is Father to the elect only in the eternal sense of being the Father with whom we may spend that eternity. We strongly consider the doctrine of the Universalist to be grave error that all that is born of woman is saved.
Everyone who has had any close relationship with a father will admit that they have been much influenced by his teaching and character in the way they express themselves, the things they believe by faith, and the daily mannerisms they exhibit. I remember the daily conversations I enjoyed with my father during which he taught me the importance of reading books, his exploits during the Second World War, and, most importantly, how to read and understand the Holy Bible. I believe my father shaped my faith and beliefs more than any other single influence in my life. My father could explain biblical doctrine better than any clergyman I have known. He only experienced some difficulty in reconciling controversial church practices with biblical warrant for the same. He owned the strong quality of believing what he believed without being shaken by any non-biblical sources such as the ‘educated’ opinions of men. He was a Rock of his faith, and he had made his mind up early not to hear any voices that contradicted his faith in biblical truth. For the longest time, I believed that my father was the most intelligent man alive. He was well-read, and held firmly to his beliefs. Even so, he still comes close to that image today though he passed from this world more than ten years ago.
But we all can have a Father whose wit, wisdom, and knowledge surpass all others – in fact; He is the epitome of wisdom. All truth and knowledge emanate from that great Mind which is the Mind of God. The stars in their orbits, the galactic universes, the sun, moon, and earth were all flung into their places by His knowing finger. He spoke, and it was done!
We who have heard the call of Christ and responded are privileged to have a special relationship with the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is Savior, Redeemer, King, Counselor, and even Father to us; but Christ is also our closest kin – a brother who sticks closer than any earthly brother. Having the privilege to call the same Father of our Lord our own Father is the most miraculous grace we can enjoy. The privilege was not granted to the people of God until Christ came and made those who have come by grace and faith to the Throne of Mercy His brothers and sisters. That sacrificial blood relationship we enjoy in Christ far surpasses any mortal blood relationship we have with close family and kin.
See too it today that Christ is your brother and God your Father!
