Thinking about "Children of Promise"

Galatians 4: 28 "Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise."

All week long, I've been mediating on the phrase, "Children of Promise." I think this phrase jumped out to me because I'm an expectant grandmother, looking forward to meeting my fifth grandchild in March!

What are "children of promise"? Let me share some of my thoughts on this phrase.

1. Supernatural birth -- Isaac was conceived well after Sarah's body was no longer physically capable of becoming pregnant. It was God that enabled her to become pregnant. He supernaturally reversed the aging process of Sarah's womb, and Isaac was conceived. Sarah's womb was dead, but God regenerated the womb. Ephesians 2:1 says that we are "dead in trespasses and sin." "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive [regenerated us] with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." (Eph. 2:4-5) God gave us a supernatural birth -- the new birth of which Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:7, "You must be born again."

2. Foreknowledge -- If you don't know something is going to happen, you can't make a promise that it will happen. God promised that Isaac would be born. He knew it would happen. God also knew that I would be a child of promise. He knew that I would accept his gift of salvation. Romans 8:29-30 tells us that "those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son....And those he predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." God foreknew me and called to be a child of promise.

3. Family Member -- when born, Isaac became a member of Abraham and Sarah's family. When I was born again, I became a member of God's family. He adopted me! Galatians 3:26: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

4. Heirs -- Galatians 4:7: "...since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." This reminds me of the phrase in the song, Family of God: "Joint heirs with Jesus...."! In Isaac's case, the second born received the inheritance. The child of promise was the heir. Galatians 4:22-31 discusses the differences between the child of promise (Isaac) and the child born "in the ordinary way" (Ishmael). Only the child of promise receives any inheritance. I Cor. 2:9 gives us a hint of how magnificent our inheritance will be, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

What is my response to being a "Child of Promise"? Thanksgiving to our Amazing God....humility at the undeserved privilege....Acknowledgement of my unworthiness and His great grace, love, & mercy...Worship and Praise to my Heavenly Father!

"Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole. Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation, so rich and free!"

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