Romans 8:14-17 NIV[14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, 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.
Dear God, I make jokes about “free will” and wanting to ask you one day if you regret that little aspect of our humanity, but I know the alternative is worse. I know that without it we would be the slaves Paul mentions here. Instead, we are your children.
So what would it be like to be slaves of yours? I can’t even fathom it. I guess it would mean serving a God who controls us through fear. In fact, I think it plays into the theology that a lot of people have about you rewarding Christians for good behavior and punishing for bad behavior. This theory was debunked by Job and so many others thousands of years ago, but I suppose it is hard for humans to separate love and relationships from setting conditions on both.
Father, I’m not here praying right now for any kind of reward other than relationship. I know that knowing you and loving you is good for me. I know that you are the only rest my soul can find. So I submit to you willingly and freely. Thank you for loving me.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 