I've been reading an interesting book lately, and I'll include a review of it, probably early next week. But in the book, the author makes an interesting point. Do most Christians "act" as though they are a son (or daughter) of the Father, or as though they are a servant? As I thought about that contrast, it really did get me to thinking.
If you are a child of the Father, you have a great deal of freedom. You live in the relationship of knowing that you have far more "latitude" as a son than you do as a servant. The reason for that is simple: you belong by blood to the Father. A servant is merely someone who is employed for a particular set of tasks. However, if you are a son (or daughter), you have both greater responsibility and greater freedom.
Greater freedom in that you have less to worry about in terms of your standing before your Father. You can step out and risk a lot more as a son than you ever would as a servant. Why is that? Because you know that your Father is a forgiving Father who wants nothing but the best for you. Sure, if you step out in a wrong direction, or too far, He may have to call you back and show you the error of your ways, but even in that, you know that you can venture forth because of that relationship.
At the same time, you have greater responsibility than a servant. Because you are in relationship with the Father, you bear His name. Everything that you do, no matter how large or small, reflects upon the name of the Father. Everything you do reflects upon the other members of your family, and therefore you also have a greater responsibility to consider them when you act. They may grant you freedom to risk in the family's name, but they also carry the responsibility and authority to bring you back when you step out of line, or too far.
In contrast, as a servant, your primary concern is to make your master happy. You are less willing to take risks because you know that it could easily backfire on you. While you might have the comfort of knowing that your Master is a forgiving Master, you don't have the family connection to fall back on. You are merely there to do your duty. You tend to operate in far narrower, more defined ways, than you ever would if you had that blood relationship of a son or daughter.
I find this interesting because, even as the author says that Christians should consider themselves as sons and daughters of the Father, his language throughout is that of a servant. When you hear things like obedience stressed, it isn't necessarily an indication of a view of yourself as a servant. However, when that's pretty much the bulk of the language used, it indicates the viewpoint in which you stand.
Consider the language you use concerning God your Father. Do you use language which reflects a view of yourself as a child of the Father, or of a servant of the Master? And once you think about that, consider also which one you would rather be viewed as by God. Yes, Scripture speaks of both, and of us filling both roles, but our language can often reveal which one we primarily think of ourselves as.
If you are a child of the Father, you have a great deal of freedom. You live in the relationship of knowing that you have far more "latitude" as a son than you do as a servant. The reason for that is simple: you belong by blood to the Father. A servant is merely someone who is employed for a particular set of tasks. However, if you are a son (or daughter), you have both greater responsibility and greater freedom.
Greater freedom in that you have less to worry about in terms of your standing before your Father. You can step out and risk a lot more as a son than you ever would as a servant. Why is that? Because you know that your Father is a forgiving Father who wants nothing but the best for you. Sure, if you step out in a wrong direction, or too far, He may have to call you back and show you the error of your ways, but even in that, you know that you can venture forth because of that relationship.
At the same time, you have greater responsibility than a servant. Because you are in relationship with the Father, you bear His name. Everything that you do, no matter how large or small, reflects upon the name of the Father. Everything you do reflects upon the other members of your family, and therefore you also have a greater responsibility to consider them when you act. They may grant you freedom to risk in the family's name, but they also carry the responsibility and authority to bring you back when you step out of line, or too far.
In contrast, as a servant, your primary concern is to make your master happy. You are less willing to take risks because you know that it could easily backfire on you. While you might have the comfort of knowing that your Master is a forgiving Master, you don't have the family connection to fall back on. You are merely there to do your duty. You tend to operate in far narrower, more defined ways, than you ever would if you had that blood relationship of a son or daughter.
I find this interesting because, even as the author says that Christians should consider themselves as sons and daughters of the Father, his language throughout is that of a servant. When you hear things like obedience stressed, it isn't necessarily an indication of a view of yourself as a servant. However, when that's pretty much the bulk of the language used, it indicates the viewpoint in which you stand.
Consider the language you use concerning God your Father. Do you use language which reflects a view of yourself as a child of the Father, or of a servant of the Master? And once you think about that, consider also which one you would rather be viewed as by God. Yes, Scripture speaks of both, and of us filling both roles, but our language can often reveal which one we primarily think of ourselves as.
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