For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. (Galatians 4:27-28)
Today's Morsel: When God promised Abraham that he would have children as many as the stars of heaven in multitude and the sand by the seashore innumerable, Abraham probably could not think of that many. But this was a prophetic promise to him. It was a metaphor of what God was going to do through him. Paul, who was educated in the law, understood how this applied, and he wrote to the church, " For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all"(Galatians 4:22-26). Notice that of those two sons, only one of them was by promise, and that was Isaac. And he said that we are as Isaac was, the children of promise. One represents the flesh, the other represents the Spirit. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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" (Romans 8:14-17); "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29). Isaac not only represents Jesus Christ, he represents us as well. Paul said that if you have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, you are a child of the promise that God made to Abraham. If you have not been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, it's not too late. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:38-41). Isn't it great that on the first day of the New Testament Church, 3120 believers became sons of God all because of the promise God made to Abraham.
Sing: Oh yes, Oh yes, I'm a child of the King, His Royal Blood now flows through my veins. I who was wretched and blind, now can sing, praise God, praise God, I'm a child of the King.
Thought for Today: It's never too late for you to become a son of the promise.
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