TAKE YOUR PLACE

 You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you rejected. Is. 62:3-4

   Years ago, when my son was a teenager, we had another teen that stayed with us for a time. Whenever we would go somewhere, the teen would run out the door ahead of my son, yelling, “I get shotgun!” And he would jump in the front seat. After it had happened several times, I said to my son, “You know, that is the seat of honor, and it belongs to you!” Because he was my son, it was his rightful place!  

   John 1:12 tells us that “to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Because He “loved us with such great love”, and “Since you are cherished and precious in My eyes, and because I love you dearly and want to honor you.” Is. 43:2,4 (The Passion Translation Notes also uses the words; dear, costly, of great price) “He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with Him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!” Eph. 2:6

   One of my all-time favorite stories is The Little Princess. It’s the story of a little girl named Sara that lived in luxury and fortune until her military father had to go off to war.

   He took his precious daughter (his little princess) to live at a boarding school while he was gone, with specific instructions that nothing whatsoever was to be withheld from her, no matter the cost.  

   At first, the head school mistress went above and beyond the call of duty to please little Sara, giving her the best room, buying her pretty dresses and throwing her parties. Until the day they got word that her father had been killed in battle. Then, the hard-hearted schoolmistress sold all of Sara’s belongings, and moved her bedroom up to the cold, damp attic and she is forced to serve, living a life of slavery.

   Little Sara refused to believe that her father was gone and she refused to give up believing who she was. She held on to hope and the words of her father, believing that what he said about her was the truth! She knew in her heart of hearts that she really was a princess. “I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young. They’re still princesses.” (Sara Crewe-The Little Princess)

   The name Sarah literally means “Princess”.

    Why was Sara so adamant that she was a princess? Even when things in the natural didn’t reflect that reality, she stood her ground, believing that she was indeed “a princess”.  It was because her father told her she was, and she believed him!

  Our heavenly Father says to His children, “I have called you by name, and you are Mine.” Is 43:1 And it is “in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” Gal. 3:26“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:18 “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Gal. 4:7

   When the Father looks at you, He is delighted and well please, and His Words to you are the truest of true, “You are altogether beautiful my love; there is no flaw in you.” Song of Solomon 4:7 The love that the Father has for you is so immense, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1 “For I am sure the neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present no things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

   He says to you today, “Arise, My dearest. Hurry, my darling. Come away with Me! I have come as you have asked to draw you to My heart and lead you out. For now is the time, My beautiful one. The season has changed, and the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers.” SOS 2:10-12

   Arise: to get up, stand up, rise, turn out, uprise, arouse, awake, stir. Words related to arise: be, breathe, exist, live, arrive, emerge, continue, persist, survive. Merriam-Webster

   Springtime is soon to be upon us and the plans and purposes of God are springing forth! The Lord is calling His children to take their rightful place! To stand on the absolute truth of who He says we are in Christ! Believe God (have faith, accept as true, stand on, confidence in, trust) when He says to you, “And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:18 Know that God has not changed His mind about you, His desire for you still stands. It doesn’t matter what things look like in the natural, we are His beloved children and His plans for us are good! He is telling us to, “Wake up. Arise and shine! But GOD rises on you, His sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness. Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you.” Is. 60:1-4

   “Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” GOD’s DECREE. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessing! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people Israel.” Amos 9:13-14

   Even creation eagerly awaits and yearns for us to take our place! For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:9

And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our heats, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir. Gal. 4:6-7 NLT

You received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father. For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16