Being Truly Alive

“Unbeing dead isn't being alive.” —e. e. cummings

I'm sure you've already realized that this whole "identity thing" is really important to me. Knowing who we are in Christ is… well, I think it's one of the most important concepts in authentic Christian spirituality. Living it is the difference between "unbeing dead" and being truly alive.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 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." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ… —Romans 8:14-17

People who grew up in the 1960s, will say, "Anyone who says they remember the 60s clearly wasn't there." It's kind of like that with this passage. "Anyone who says they know what Romans 8 means clearly hasn't read it." Now, I'm not talking about the simple meaning of the words. I’m talking about what these words mean for us. It's profound stuff. It's mystical and full of wonder. And it's powerfully practical. Read it again. Imagine that you are living out the meaning of these words… because you can. This is who you are in Jesus Christ: 

• Now we call Him, “Abba, Daddy” 

• Led by the Spirit

• Adopted as a child of God 

• A Renewed Nature 

• An heir of the Father with a full inheritance shared with Jesus and other brothers and sisters. 

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PRAYER: Abba, Daddy, my mind can only take me so far. Conform my beliefs to the truth of Your Word. Then, Lord, would You make these truths come alive in my heart? I want to follow You, Father, for who You are as my Dad, for who I am as a fully adopted child. I stand aside and submit to the leading of Your Spirit!