Sons, Not Slaves

“Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Mark 1:11)

This is a tender moment. This was the Father ministering to His Son and He says, “You are My beloved Son.” What does He attach to this statement about being His beloved Son?

“I am well pleased with you.”

There are 2 parts to this statement. The first part has to do with identity:

“This is My beloved Son…”

When the Father says this He is saying, “You and I are identified with one another.”

The second part has to do with approval based on that identity:

“…in whom I am well pleased.”

When the Father says this to Jesus He is saying, “I am well pleased with you” and this literally means “I highly approve of you.”

I am a son.

I could use hearing that from time to time. Couldn’t you?

I recently saw something a minister wrote. He’s a good guy but what he said really bothered me because it reflects so much of what is taught in the body of Christ. This is what he said:

“Remember that we are created for labor. Those around us need our service to benefit their lives. The idle life is a workshop for the devil. We must work for the Kingdom while it is day. Serve the Lord with gladness. You were made for work. So do it!”

What do you think when you read that? Work is good and work for the Kingdom is really good but, as Christians, what do you think when you read that? It makes me feel like I am an employee to God or a slave.

How does God see us in this arena? Are we His slaves or mere workers?

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:36)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19)

“‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters’, says the LORD Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18)

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26)

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 3:26)

When Jesus was baptized what did the Father say to Him?

“I am well pleased with You” – “I highly approve of you.”

What did Jesus do to deserve that? What miracles had He done thus far? How many people had He raised from the dead? How many sermons had He preached?

NONE!

So, what then, was the basis of the Father’s approval of Jesus?

He approved of Jesus simply because He was the Father’s son and we....are His sons as well.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

Jesus is the “firstborn”. WE are the “many brethren”.

He was highly approved of simply by being a son.

SO ARE WE.

We are NOT made to work; we are made to be sons; we are made to be sons of the Most High God!

We ARE to work...but not FOR the Father. We work WITH Him - Father.....and sons...building together.

“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” (Luke 3:21-22)

When we were baptized into Christ the Holy Spirit came to dwell in our human spirits. In that instant we became sons of the Most High God and He highly approved of us.

All the mean things ever said and done to us…all the tender and nurturing things that should have been said or done - that went undone, have been inspired by the unholy spirit: satan. Our enemy did this to convince us that it is our “doings” or our appearance that make us worthy of approval or worthy of disdain.

Let’s repent! Let’s cast off that evil way of evaluating ourselves and others and let's see people solely in terms of whether or not they are in Christ.

If they are in Christ, God has made them acceptable.

If they are not in Christ, they have the potential to be restored into the image and likeness of our Father.

We are God’s sons. He IS well pleased with us. When we account of ourselves with THESE spiritual eyes we will see ourselves as He does.

Then let us live accordingly: confident, strong, willing, alive, loving ….beloved.

Join me in this prayer so we will receive that spiritual reality:

“Father God, we thank You for saving us. We thank You for choosing to do that by making us Your children. Thank you for loving us and for approving of us. Change our minds so that we will see ourselves like You do…in an ever increasing way. We receive Your love. We receive Your approval. We receive YOU as Father. In this matchless name of Jesus we pray. Amen.”

Pastor Mike McInerney

Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.

Decatur, Texas

© September 9, 2010

(For use with permission)