Thoughts for the Day

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

As we begin a new Year it is appropriate to remind ourselves of our basic beliefs, and our reading from Galatians gives us a complete reminder of what we believe as Christians. In the Roman, Greek and Jewish worlds at the time of Jesus there were definite rules and regulations about when children became adults and when they would come into their inheritance. Before this they were under the control of others - parents, guardians, teachers etc - until such time when they could be free as adults and claim their inheritance.

St Paul in writing to the Galatians says that those who believe in Christ are no longer slaves to sin or to the law of Moses, they have become God's beloved children by adoption. Because of our faith, the Spirit of God allows us into the closest of relationships so that we can call Him Father, using the familiar word "Daddy" - and as shocking as this might seem this is the meaning of the Aramaic work "Abba" which is used within a family. Believers in Christ are protected and loved by God for all time, because Christ gave up His life for us - he paid the price for us to be free!

This New Year we too are called to live as a child of God - how might that change our life this year ?

Father in heaven,
we thank You for Your amazing plan
to free us from the toils of sin,
by sending Your Son to earth.
Through Christ we are made free,
even when we fail and fail again.
Make us truly sorry for our failures
so that as Your children we might
become the people You wish us to be.
Help us to start this new year
determined to make changes to our life
as befits a child of God.
Amen.