You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). Paul is intent on telling Christians something the Spirit of God does do, and something the Spirit emphatically does not do. Paul insists the Spirit of God does not bring a slavish fear but rather an affectionate crying out to God as our Father.
Father's Day
What Meek Family Leadership Looks Like
I shared these thoughts at a men’s retreat a few years ago, learning from the man whom God himself commended in superlative terms for his meekness, even though he was a great leader. In fact, it is his very meekness which contributed to Moses’ great leadership. There are lessons here, then, for every leader — including in the home — so I hope these observations will be a blessing to all fathers and families:
What Does It Mean For God to Be Our Father?
In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith (Galatians 3:26). At a men’s breakfast some time ago, I shared the following thoughts about what it means for God to be our father. If you are not a father it should bless, humble, and encourage you; if you are a father it should bless, humble, and inspire you to be a better father — a father more like God. Here are at least 15 implications from Scripture to the profound truth that God is our father:
God Is the Ultimate Leadership Role Model
The following content came from a January 2009 men’s breakfast at which I spoke. It is a sobering, awe-inspiring, standard-raising thing for God to say to us: “Be holy like I am holy.” The outline below includes just some of the many meditations that we might biblically derive from the call to be God-imitators: