Are you an orphan or are you a son? A daughter? We can call ourselves children of God, but still live with an orphan mentality. It’s important that we understand the difference between living as children, or living as orphans. The doors of the orphanage have been broken down through our heavenly adoption. Or as Paul more aptly put:
“So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” - Galatians 4:7
Here is a quick checklist - do you find yourself relating more to the orphan, or to the son?
Orphans protect for fear of losing, sons release what they know there’s more of.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. - Proverbs 11:24
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38
Orphans compromise identity for immediate gratification, sons find gratification from their identity.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. - Genesis 25:34
And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. - Colossians 2:10
Orphans are skeptical of everyone’s intentions, a sons reality is not determined by the intentions of others.
Then they spoke against God; They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? - Psalm 78:19
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. - Matthew 17:20
Orphans perform in order to gain approval, sons know they are eternally approved.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. - John 6:37
Orphans seek to control their surroundings in order to maintain their independence, sons control themselves to maintain their freedom.
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” - Genesis 11:4
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. - 1 Corinthians 9:27
Orphans make promises they can’t keep to gain favor, sons live with an integrity that doesn’t require making promises.
It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. - Ecclesiastes 5:5
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. - Matthew 5:37
