Topic: YOU ARE NOT A SERVANT BUT A SON  – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 30 June 2021 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]

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YOU ARE NOT A SERVANT BUT A SON 

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 KJV

When Jesus was on the cross, the Father turned His back on Him for the first time. All along, He had been calling Him “Father,” but for the first time, Jesus called him ‘God.’ He said, “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Automatically, that put a distance between them. The word ‘God’ makes Him distant. Believers are not supposed to be calling God; He is your Daddy.

 
When you call Him Abba Father, there is intimacy to it. Some of the names that we call God make Him distant. I know that those are His names: He is El-Shaddai, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Shammah. They are wonderful names. But ‘Father’ makes the relationship closer. Can you imagine if my daughter wants to talk to me, then she calls me “Bishop Mike?” Honestly, I will feel very strange. If my wife wants to talk to me, and she says, “Bishop,” a wall will be created because I would put on my robe immediately but when she says, “Honey” or “Sweetie,” it becomes intimate.

Beloved, you are saved! Therefore, you are a son and not a servant. In the gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, you will discover that the word ‘disciple’ occurred about two hundred times. A disciple is a student and the way it was used then, you are a disciple because you are following a teacher. You don’t only learn what he is teaching you, you also learn his mannerism. In Acts of the Apostles, you will discover that the word appeared only thirty times. Then, when you look at the Epistles, you will never see the word “disciple.” God expects that by then, you should know that you’re a son. 

Now that you are a son, you willingly follow your Daddy. You are not forced because you know He’s your Daddy and you know He will not mislead you.  Beloved, you are a son, so stop behaving like a servant.

Further Reading: Galatians 4:1-7

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 17-19; Evening- Acts 10:1-23