The Dirty Beggar Boy
The Dirty Beggar Boy
If you were walking down some important street in the midst of great crowds, and should see a dirty beggar child holding out his hand toward you, your heart would be moved to pity. But if that child kept running after you and called out to you "Mother," or "Father," when you have never seen the child before, you would be stirred to righteous indignation. What right would that child have to attract attention to you and turn the gaze of all the passersby from the child's filth to you? Desire on the part of a child cannot create a parental relationship. If you go to the child in the street and lead him to your home, give him new cleanliness and new clothing, and adopt him into your family, then he has the right to call you father, and the law will recognize that right. But the right and authority must be given by you.
In the divine relationship God has made full provision for sonship. If we are to become sons of God, the first step is that we must realize that we are not sons of God, and cannot be except through the channel which He himself has opened up to us through Christ.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Sin, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal. 4,5)
1. How does this work of “redeemed for adoption” make God’s grace more amazing?
2. In what practical ways will this fact of “redeemed for adoption” change your daily walk with and service to our Redeemer and Our Father?
3. What encouragement can we draw from this work of grace when the battle becomes too strong for us?
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