Eastertide

June 6, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:14-17

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.

I was stunned when I read one of my great, great grandfather’s will where it said my great grandfather, his son Daniel, was to get nothing. The small town they lived in created a history of most of its early citizens. My great, great grandfather and grandmother are named along with eleven of their twelve children. You can guess who was left out. Family lore has it that Daniel was a horse thief and was found dead facedown in a creek having been shot several times. I have not verified that, nor do I know where he is buried. I do not think most of us spend much time thinking about being heirs, and I cannot imagine how one would feel if he or she were disinherited. I did see the records of the sale where my great, great grandfather’s property was sold at auction after his death.  Daniel bought his dad’s saddle.

And so, it is that God in God’s great mercy and love sends the Spirit to bear witness to our spirit that we are children of God. I think all humans are children of God. Some may not be aware of that and that perhaps in on us for not having taken God’s love to the ends of the earth. Others may defy God’s attempts to love them. I do not think that God ever disinherits any of God’s children, but some may remove themselves from the shelter of God’s love. Perhaps that is what is described as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit*.

I wish I could find a prodigal son story about my Great Grandfather Daniel, but I have not yet. The prodigal son in the Bible had already lost his property inheritance, but he could never lose his Father’s love. That is true for all God’s children.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit to give us the assurance of your love for each of us, your children. Amen.

*See Mark 3:28–29, Matthew 12:31–32, and Luke 12:10
**See Luke 15:11-32

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.