For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:14 NLT
My son Jacob is so much like his father. He looked like Charlie early on, but every year that passes the resemblance in multiple ways becomes more apparent. Jacob’s six-year-old son is the third in that family line. The older he gets, the more he is like his father too. Both of them have a natural propensity to look like their dads, but the fact that Charlie spent so much time with Jacob, and Jacob now does with Griffin takes the similarities to a whole new level. Their gestures, expressions, humor – they all show who is the father.
True spiritual maturity is defined by increasing likeness to our Father. We become identifiable as His children as we walk with the Holy Spirit daily, transitioning from a life of immaturity and fear to a life of intimacy with our Father as His much-loved child.
We have a new identity. We are not slaves who live in fear, but we are true children adopted into God’s family. The Spirit enables us to call God "Abba,” our Father/Dad.
When the Spirit leads us, we have a new relationship. Being "led" means living in an everyday, moment-by-moment relationship with the Spirit. We are never alone and we don’t rely on our own strength or strategies.
When we walk in the Spirit, He leads us by daily promptings. He gives us inner urges to act. He may direct us to do something as difficult as putting to death a sinful habit that has entrapped us. He may lead us to encourage a struggler. The Holy Spirit may urge us to make a correct but difficult decision.
When we walk in the Spirit, we get regular assurance that we are children of God. It has nothing to do with earning our salvation or our relationship. It is about identifying that we DO belong to God. The evidence of being a child of God is the presence of the Spirit leading your life.
When we walk in the Spirit, we can live without fear. We have no need to feel inadequate, anxious, or live in fear of the future. We have a loving Father who leads us by His Spirit.
- Father, what a privilege to be Your child. Help me walk with and be led by Your Spirit so intentionally and clearly that my identity as Your child is readily seen.