May the mumbling commence!
Christians will be known by their love. Christians will also be known by their suffering because of their love. To boast about being children of God means to love and to suffer for that love. Read from Romans chapter eight (NRSV):
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Verses 12-17)
Choose to live by the Spirit. Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in your life – love, joy, peace. patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
As we do these things, we cry out to God “Daddy! Father!” And the Spirit testifies on our behalf. We are indeed children of God and heirs of the wonderful promises of the Lord.
What is the key to this glory? We need to suffer… but not just any suffering. We need to suffer for the Way we live in Christ Jesus. We suffer because of our cultivation of love and joy and peace and patience… and kindness and goodness and faithfulness… and gentleness and self-control.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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