What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
-Galatians 4:1-7
What does it mean to be God’s heir?
Was it true I was no longer bound by the law, or enslaved by sin? Somehow, I was set free from legalism and death, so I could become everything I was meant to be. Not only to demonstrate the fruit of the spirit but to thoroughly enjoy it.
Now I was growing in faith, learning to trust God in all things. And when I did, peace and joy became increasingly evident.
Finally I was really learning to love people; not only those closest, but those whom I encountered out in the world everyday.
Glorifying God instead of Me was a new idea, one that started to really make sense when I surrendered my will to God’s.
By actually experiencing “amazing grace” I now understood it better than I ever could have before. Being considered by God to be His child was certainly undeserved but something I was very thankful for.
I came to see that my purpose was to live a life that pointed to Christ. As I followed in his footsteps, in His mercy and by His grace, I was set free to be God’s instrument, empowered to grow God’s kingdom. Christ was forming in me and my life was changing in ways I never expected, in the surprising opportunities that I couldn’t have previously imagined.
Now I thank God every day. And in my faith and gratitude I hoped the time would come when I thanked Him every moment of every day. Thank you God for everything!
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-Ephesians 2:10