Jesus made it clear that if we desire to be great in His kingdom, that we should become the servants of all, however, when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, we need to get a revelation that our relationship is not based on servanthood, but on the reality that we are His children.
The Passion Translation says, ‘For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”’
Galatians 3:26 (AMP) says, ‘For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.’
Galatians 4:4-7 says, ‘But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.’
In the Old Covenant, the believer’s relationship to the Lord was as a servant, based upon obedience… if you obeyed everything according to the Law you would be blessed, but if you disobeyed even one tiny thing, you would be cursed - but, God sent His Son, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Now because we are His children, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a servant but a son or a daughter of God!
As children of God, our relationship with Him is based upon love and not upon obedience. A person may ask, “but, does God not care if we obey Him or not, does the Lord not care if we sin?” The answer is clear… sin, disobedience and resisting the leading of the Spirit and not walking in His ways are all fruits of deception and works of the flesh and all lead to hurt, hardship and destruction… however, our relationship with the Lord is not based upon these things under the New Covenant.
As children of the Most High, His goodness, His grace and His love leads us to repentance… in other words, as His children, when we receive His unconditional, undeserved love, the power of the ‘agape’ love continually transforms us into His image. By His love, the power of that love works within us and brings about fruit of holiness and a Spirit led life.
Believers who relate to the Lord as servants and not as sons and daughters are inevitably sin conscious, and they tend to rely on their works to please the Lord. A servant is never ‘worthy’ to kick their shoes off in the house, to open the refrigerator to and help themselves, or to go take a nice hot bath or shower whenever they want… but a son or a daughter, living in the house freely receives all of the blessings of that house. You are NOT His servant or His slave… you are His child and have been given free access to all that He has!
Your relationship with others should be as a servant, continually washing their feet and continually preferring them, but when it comes to the Lord… your relationship should be based on the reality that you are His beloved child… based upon love, intimacy and acceptance as His beloved child!
Blessings on you, Nick
