sons and daughters

Opening Prayer: Father, we belong to you.  We are your beloved.  Help us to live like it this day.  Amen.

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Journal: What is winning the battle within you these days, fear or love?  What would it mean for you to live as if you are God’s beloved son or daughter?

Reflection: Who are we?  Are we what we do?  Are we what others say about us?  Are we the power we have?  It often seems that way in our society.  But the Spirit of Jesus given to us reveals our true spiritual identities.  The Spirit reveals that we belong not to a world of success fame, or power but to God.  The world enslaves us with fear; the Spirit frees us from that slavery and restores us to the true relationship.  That is what Paul means when he says, “All who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons [daughters] of God, for what you receives was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Romans 8:15).

     Who are we?  We are God’s beloved sons and daughters!

(Bread for the Journey by Henri J. M. Nouwen)

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Father, help me not live as a slave to fear this day, but to live as a beloved son or daughter of yours.  Then I can love others as you love me—unconditionally.  Amen.