Friday 20 June 2025
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ –if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (vs 15-17)
Background
In saying we are children of God, Paul echos Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:50 "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Here Jesus sets out the nature of membership to his new community. It's based not on biological birth and descent, but on following Jesus and his Father's [God's] will.
At times we all fail to follow Jesus and his Father's will. Paul addresses this in Romans 7 and 8. In 7:25 he writes, "…with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin." In Chapter 8, Paul explains that it is by grace we are saved. Perhaps he would appreciate the song Only by grace can we enter. Grace is sharing in God’s divine life as children of God who are led by the Spirit of God. Paul makes it clear that we have not received a spirit of slavery but a spirit of adoption: we are God’s children.
Some years ago my son Joseph was practising skateboarding outside. Suddenly I heard a cry: "Dad!" My son needed my absolute and full attention. He had fallen and cut his arm badly, the next stop was the hospital. When we cry out to God, the Holy Spirit witnesses that we are children of God adopted into God's family. We have God’s absolute attention.
At this moment many people are refugees, they are crying out. They have God’s absolute attention. Today is World Refugee Day, part of Refugee Week. Are we giving those who must flee their homes and countries enough attention?
John Wesley’s sermon 'On Faith', suggests that faith in God is necessary for salvation but that it need not be explicitly Christian. He argued that the advantage of Christian faith was the full benefits of redeemed life and assurance of salvation – the difference between being a servant and a son. At the same time he warned against complacency concluding, "when ye have attained a measure of perfect love … think not of resting there." We can always love God more by loving those in need more.
To Ponder:
- How can the Methodist Church respond to the cries of refugees?
- In what ways can we, as individuals, help those who flee their homes in fear of their lives?
Prayer
Thank you God that we can cry out to you and you hear us as daughters and sons. Help us never to take this for granted and to hear your voice in the cries of refugees. Amen.
Bible notes author: Dr Tom Lunt
Dr Tom Lunt is a Methodist local preacher, prison chaplain and lecturer. He lives with his wife Liz in East Sussex.