He Knows His Place

I made french toast this morning.  Grande was excited and waited not so patiently at the refrigerator while his piece cooled off enough to eat.  As soon as it was ready he was at the table.  

Mediano was playing with Chico in the living room and didn’t even notice we were eating until Grande was already halfway finished.  But as soon as he did, he was running toward the table saying, “I want, I want french toast, I want.”  He sat right down and looked at me with expectant eyes.  

He knew I would set a plate of french toast down in front of him.  He wasn’t shy or hesitant about asking for it.  He knew for sure that if his brother could have it, he could to.  It never even occurred to him that I may not give him any.  The thought that his not being the first born could mean that he wouldn’t receive what his older brother did, or that it made him any less of a son.  It was quite the opposite.  

He knows his place.  He is our son.  We love him and his brothers and everything we have is theirs.  We don’t love one more than the others, or withhold from one because we prefer the other.  And they all know it.

If that’s how it is with my sons, why do we think God would withhold from us?  Why is it that we think that God only gives His gifts to certain Christians?  I catch myself thinking things like, “well of course they can do that, they’re pastors,” or “yes, he prays for healing and God heals, but he’s got an international ministry.  Of course God would use him to heal.”  

If only we understood what Mediano understands.  That we are God’s children.  That what’s His is ours.  That He doesn’t prefer one child over another, but wants to work through all of us.  Then we could pray to our Abba with great faith, expectantly, knowingly.

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."  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  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.

Romans 8:15-17