God desires for us to walk in the spirit of sonship and know that we belong and are fully accepted by Him. We don’t have to prove anything to Him. We don’t have to perform for Him. Isn’t that so freeing?
Society wants us to perform first, then we’re accepted based on how good we perform. In the Kingdom, God accepts us first and from that place of complete acceptance, He performs through us!
Christianity is the only religion where God does all the work and then rewards us for it. All because He delights in His children and simply wants us to trust in Him.
He loves us as we are and just as a gentle Shepherd would, He gently leads us to become all He’s designed us to be. When we are secure in the truth of being known and accepted by our Father, there is a holy confidence, authority and rest He infuses in us to influence the world around us.
The created universe – that has been yearning for family, longing for a sense of belonging, and as orphans crying out for a father – will see the dramatic appearance of the sons and daughters rising throughout the earth, walking in the goodness, abundant provision and favor of their Father.
Romans 8:19 “The entire universe waits with excitement, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters.” (TPT)
1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”
Romans 8:15 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Sons have access. Slaves have limits. God doesn’t want us to approach His heart as workers but rather as heirs and beloved children! We were once dead, but now are alive in the Father’s delight over us! Leonard Ravenhill said, “Jesus did not come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people live!” We are fully alive, when we become aware of our true identity as sons and daughters of Abba Father!
John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
John 5:20 “Because the Father loves His Son so much, He always reveals to Me everything that He is about to do….” (TPT)
I just love how Jesus describes His Father. He speaks like a Son who’s so proud of his Dad! Through the power of Holy Spirit, we reflect the ways of the Father here on earth. We speak what He speaks. We love as He loves. Having a knowledge of what the Word says, is good, but taking it even further we can see the Father’s heart in specific ways throughout Scripture:
When we know and experience the Father’s heart, we can enjoy being His delight, confidently fulfill our destiny and carry on the “family business” of welcoming orphan sons and daughters home.
As sons and daughters in the Kingdom we get to show and tell the world, “Wait till you meet my Dad! Do you want to get to know Him?”
Jesus prayed a profoundly beautiful prayer in John 17, one of my most favorite passages in the Bible. He says something so amazing in verse 23.
John 17:23 “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”
Whoa!!!! Wait just a minute! Look at this powerful scripture! Jesus is praying for the disciples and you and me. Let’s read verse 23 again. Wow!
The unending depths of the Father’s love is lavished on His beloved Son, Jesus and the very same way the Father loves Jesus is the exact way He loves you and me! We can just end right here y’all!
Did the Father love His perfect, holy, beloved Son? Yes He did. Does the Father love you – perfect, holy, beloved in Christ – son or daughter? Yes He does!
With the same astonishing love and delight that He has towards Jesus, is the same love with which He loves us – at this very moment. Not because we earned it or performed for it. But because of His glorious, redemptive heart of passion towards us His children! What a profound, glorious truth! Beloved hearts, believe and trust in His relentless love for you and live in that reality – no matter what your emotions, mind or circumstances may say.
Inscribe these words in your heart and let this be your confession today:
“Father, You love me even as You have loved Jesus.”