Daily Devotional - April 25, 2021

💙 Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music. Why not try asking alexa, siri, or google to play it for you?!

💚 Daily Verse: But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
☆ John 1:12‭-‬13 NLT

🧡 Let's Talk About It: You and I have been adopted, friend! Yep, by God, the Father, the Almighty Himself! How does that make you feel? Do you even realize what this means?!

We have spent the last week going over the Holy Spirit's role in salvation. As we have walked through the Ordo Salutis (the theological term for the order of events taking place when we are saved), we see that after we are justified, we are adopted.

Yes, friend, now we are considered children of the Father, Himself! Paul explains that is was God's plan (Eph. 1:5). I don't know about you, but it is so freeing to know I am no longer a slave. And neither are you if you've accepted Christ as your Savior!

We are friends of God. We do not need a priest to commune or speak with El Shaddai. We don't need to wash ourselves because the truth is, we've been washed by the blood-washed white as snow.

The best part though, is that there are benefits for us now. No longer are we under the curse of death! No friends, we are forgiven, cared for, and heirs of God's freedom and discipline.

We are no longer seen as dirty. We are no longer guilty. We are no longer cursed!

So, I don't know who needs to hear this, but listen, dear one, when God turns His face towards you, He doesn't see your former life. No, that's been tossed in the sea of forgetfulness! Hallelujah!

When the Father looks upon you, He sees the image of His son, spotless and blameless. He sees you as righteous. He calls you friend, but even more so, He calls you his daughter or son.

❤ Prayer:  My God, only You could come up with such a sweet plan for each and every one of us. Before I was born, You knew me. Thank you, God, for choosing to save me. Thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit to guide me. Lord, You are so magnificent and transcendent! I give You all the praise for who You are because without You, God, I am but dust. I can call You Abba, Daddy, because I am Your daughter. Thank you for adopting me into Your family. Help me to carry myself like Your child. If anything that is not of You, Lord, weighs on my mind, whether consciously or unconsciously, if I carry anything that is not of You, Jesus, I pray, Lord, that you would help me recognize it and let those things go. Help me realize who I am in You, Jesus. Your Word says I am hidden Christ, so Lord, I press into You, for there is where all truth resides! Thank You, thank You, thank You! May You receive the glory forevermore! I love You Jesus and pray all these things in Your mighty name, amen!