From Fear to Freedom: God's Daughter

I ended my last discussion of this topic with the thought that we can approach God at his throne of grace. I would like to begin here again, for the Gospel is a ministry of grace, and the truth and knowledge we gain from the Word is only made possible through the grace of Jesus Christ--He has not only won our hearts, but our adoption and freedom in the family of God.

John 1:12-13 says: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

I demand many rights on a daily basis, from other people and myself, but how often do I pray back THIS promise of God? Christ gave me the right to become a child of God. Note, He does not mean here that we were deserving of being saved; rather, He is speaking of a bold faith that is possible because Christ's righteousness has covered our sins.

One of the things that Miller spells out in her transformation from a legalistic, defensive, self-righteous Orphan is that she realized she needed to change the object of her trust. Self-righteousness hindered her from that holy boldness, because she could only see her failures and mistakes. Trusting herself was a disappointment, and led to an orphanhood of isolation from God and others. Thus, Condemnation became the one drop of ink that ruins a whole glass of water, for as she condemned herself, she also began to condemn others. Judging them was a natural to her as judging herself.

As the Lord led her through this process of seeing the depths of her self-righteousness, God's unconditional love became clear. Indeed, knowing that she was the worst sinner brought to a humble amazement at God's mercy and love. Even as trials came, God helped Miller to grow in her heart-knowledge of the tender, sovereign ways of the Father. The chains of Fear were slowly broken, and the beauty of God's glory led her down a new path of 'daughtership'.

Ephesians 1:5 says, "In LOVE he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."

To know that I am God's daughter is an incredible truth that breaks through our slavery to ourselves. Quoting Miller, it builds my "assurance of God as Father through knowledge of the doctrine of the Cross."
It also allows us to rely on the Spirit of God for obedience and daily acknowledgment of the Lord's will for each moment. If I know that I am daughter, God calls me to forgive others and not revoke to defensiveness and judgment of them. A holy boldness stirs me to be faithful in prayer, because I know I have a heavenly Father above who is eager and willing to hear, and answer my requests; at the same time, this holy boldness does not demand from God the exact answer to my desires, but trusts in a "plan not to be feared". Lastly, my adoption into Christ's family of believers gives me the privilege of constant intercession with the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing when I do sin and 'fall short'.

Miller ends her book with none other than the brilliant Martin Luther:

"Say thou: "O Law, thou wouldest climb up into the kingdom of my conscience, and there reprove it of sin, and take from me the joy of my heart, which I have by faith in Christ, and drive me to desperation that I may be without hope, and utterly perish. Keep within thy bounds, and exercise thy power upon the flesh: for I am baptized, and by the gospel am called to the partaking of righteousness and everlasting life."

Isn't God's glorious grace to his daughters and sons-- displayed, revealed, and made complete at the Cross of Christ-- simply amazing?! Let us continually live in this unconditional love...for we are Joint-heirs with Christ if we have confessed our sins and believed in His finished work.