Read Romans 8:14-15
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (v. 15).
The family is one of the beautiful analogies used in God’s Word to describe the new life in Christ. The image stirs up emotions of closeness, sharing, and belonging. These emotions are magnified when an orphan is adopted into a family unit, and for the first time in life he experiences those feelings.
Sadly, that picture of the family is, for some, only a distant dream. Fathers are obeyed out of fear rather than from love and respect. Mothers shout and condemn rather than encouraging and supporting. In that kind of a home, “the spirit of bondage” has scarred the biblical analogy.
Even sadder, however, is that some Christians view God more like the dysfunctional father than as “Abba, Father.” They live in fear of punishment for an inadvertent sin, and their fear makes it impossible to draw close to their God.
Today, take a moment to draw close to Him. His arms are outstretched; His face has a welcoming smile. There is no freedom like the warmth and joy of the presence of God. (Gordon Snider)

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray.
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off; my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. — Charles Wesley

Slavish fear is banished by the presence of Abba, Father.

This devotional entry is the Monday, July 6, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.

Read Romans 6:20-23
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (v. 22).
Two kinds of freedom are noted in today’s passage. The apostle stated clearly that sinners are free from righteousness. As “servants of sin,” every one of us was once so captivated by sin that righteousness was not a part of our lives or characters. Paul would have disagreed strongly with the idea that people are basically good. His teaching indicates that apart from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, everyone is essentially evil.
Yet that does not make freedom from sin an impossibility. Paul continued by insisting that freedom — the word means liberty or liberation — from sins is possible in Christ. In fact, he said that we have been set free from sins by our relationship with the Savior. Whereas we once were free from righteousness and servants of sin, we are now free from sin and servants to God.
What a difference it makes when Jesus saves! Theologically and practically, we are changed when Jesus saves us and lives in our hearts and lives. Later, Paul talked about us being made new creations in Christ because old things pass away and everything keeps on becoming new. When we become servants of God, we are liberated, produce the fruit of holiness, and have the hope of everlasting life. (Mark Avery)

Salvation in Jesus Christ sets us free from sin’s bondage.

This is the Tuesday, June 23, 2015, devotional entry from Opening the Word.

 Read Romans 8:16-19
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (v. 17).
Often when we visit friends, we are shown items of interest that they inherited from a family member. Those are heirlooms, things that heirs would receive. Many of these things are priceless, in either actual or sentimental value.
While my family did not seem to hang on to things of the past, I enjoy the beautiful dishes, quilts, and furniture others have inherited, and I listen to the loving connections with family. We have already learned this week that we are adopted by the King of the heavens and are His children. In every sense, that makes us heirs of God, heirs of all the good things He has for His children and of a home in heaven, and heirs together with Christ!
With inheritance comes responsibility. By bearing His name, we show the world what the family is like. We are witnesses to what He has done for us by living holy lives and by reflecting His grace. The change in us will show others the possibilities of being joint-heirs with Christ! (Sue Colburn)

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth!
But I've been adopted; my name's written down.
I'm heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown!
— Harriet E. Buell

Think of all we inherit by being children of the King, then count your blessings!

This is the Tuesday, June 16, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Read Romans 5:1-6
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 1).
In an effort to be a good Christian, as a teen-ager I turned a spiritual magnifying glass on myself, absorbed with every thought or deed that might be wrong. Throughout my day, I was constantly apologizing to God for the slightest infraction. Let us just say I was not a very joyful or a very peaceful follower of Christ.
Ironically, in my effort to do what was right as a Christian, I became very focused on myself rather than on Christ. Something was seriously backwards about the whole thing. My worries about “what if I have done something wrong” actually undermined the very faith I needed.
So here is my testimony of what Christ has done for me: He has delivered me from myself. At this and other times in my life, when I have been completely bound by doubts and trying to do or be, Jesus has swept in and brought release. He has also dealt with my pride, one of the unpleasant roots of it all.
When it comes right down to it, neither you nor I can ever be good enough. We are only justified by faith, and faith in God is the only route to true peace. (Ashlee Englund)

Jesus is the source of our salvation.

This devotional is the entry for Friday, June 12, 2015, of Opening the Word.

Photo credit: "Magnified Eye_5364c" by James Emery used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.