“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman” (Gal 4:21-31)

In the Roman Empire the father was not directly involved in his son’s life while he was a child. That was the work of the mother and later, the private paid teacher. This teacher lived in the house and was completely in charge of his student. He taught him not only the sciences or the languages. He also taught him how to do war, the tradition of the family and the social skills preparing him to be a true son and heir to his father. Later, when the boy becomes a teenager, there was a special public ceremony when the fully trained son is handed back to his father. In other words, his father redeems him, ‘adopts’ his own son. From that time on, he will be by the father’s side. Everybody will know them together: father and son. They are a team. The son shall be known as the heir to the family estate.  The two generations shall walk together side by side. The father knows that the heir is ready, mature and faithful to the name and interests of the family. The power of death and failure has been destroyed because the two generations have been linked together by an indestructible bond. From this time on, the son shall take active part in the administration of the estate, even going with the father as a soldier, to help him in times of war. He is a mature son who can make wise decisions. The teacher who trained him as a boy is no longer needed. The obedience to the law is replaced by the intimate family relationship between father and son. This is a picture of the peculiar work of grace in the heart of the true believers. This transformation between the time of conversion and the establishment of spiritual maturity is called sanctification. It is under the sovereign control of the Spirit of God. No other man, spirit or angel can perform this miracle of spiritual growth. Please observe that all spiritual children shall be treated like slaves at the beginning. But there is a difference of hope. Sarah’s sons shall become spiritually mature, while Hagar’s own will never grow. Selah!

This is a very practical lesson: study the people you call believers for a long time. If they are truly born again, they will surely grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. There shall be spiritual fruit. They become more loving, more patient and more self-controlled with their tongues. But the religious unbelievers do not change. Even if they attend the best churches, even with the preaching of the Gospel, even in the presence of the anointing of the Holy Spirit after many years they still remain the same: selfish, lazy, wicked, rude and irresponsible. Like the sheep and the goats, Sarah and Hagar’s children shall reveal their true nature! Wait for this revelation before you make any lasting commitment of fellowship with them! You will avoid the pain of a broken heart. Wait for the shine of the stars! No matter how dark the night, the true believers shall arise and shine!

In Christ I declare:

Sarah is my mother!

I am a child of promise!

I am the light of the world!

I am a city on hill and a light-house for the lost!

My children are free from the law of sin and death!

My children are true believers!

My children shall arise and shine!

The Hope of Glory dwells in me and in my children!

In Jesus name

Amen!