ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 24, 2012)

By Grace: Children of God
Isaiah 43:1-7;
Romans 8:15-17

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by 
my name, whom I created for my glory, 
whom I formed and made."
(Isaiah 43:6b-7)
One of the most wonderful doctrines in the Word of God is "sonship." God's children - whether sons or daughters - are His "sons." We have been twice-blessed by being born into the family of God, and also adopted as His children. To be adopted is to be chosen. To be a "son" is to have all rights of inheritance. Only those who have been born again by God's Spirit and chosen by Him in adoption will inherit His kingdom (John 3:3; Ephesians 1:5).
God is our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9), Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He has chosen and re-created you and me for a special purpose - His eternal glory. Yahweh says that we are precious and honored in His sight. He has called us from "the ends of the earth" to be His precious, honored, and beloved children. It is all through His grace alone, and not because of anything in us. He is neither our landlord nor our boss. Though we may have had difficult earthly fathers, we take comfort knowing God is our loving Father, and we are His beloved children.
INSIGHT
"As a father 
has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion 
on those who fear him."

(Psalm 103:13)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 41-42
Psalm 21
Mark 1
Isaiah 43:1-7;
Israel’s Only Savior
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region
Romans 8:15-17
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[a] And by him we cry, "Abba,[b] Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 8:15 Or adoption
b. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for Father