Mark Carey Writes:

A friend of mine used to be a rocket scientist – one of the main things he did was work on satellites. He told me that in order to keep them at the right altitude, in the right orbit, a satellite would have things called ‘attitude adjusters’ which puffed out little bursts of air to keep it to be where it should be.

I was thinking of this when I read Romans 8 recently – here Paul talks about two laws – one of sin and death (condemnation) and other of the Spirit of Life. Condemnation keeps our altitude low – in the grave – the other raises us up into freedom – life. There is a conflict between these two ‘spirits’ or ‘laws’, one keeps us in slavery and condemnation and the other leads us to understand our true identity – we are the adopted children of God. As adopted children we get all the rights of the biological child – we are co-heirs with Christ which means that everything that He has is ours. God’s riches and resources are our riches and resources. Most amazingly we get this deep and beautiful assurance of being God’s children – exchanging our ‘who I am’ for a profound sense of ‘whose I am’. We are His favourites(!), the ones He loves with an everlasting love.

So being aware of my adoption as a child of God is a significant attitude adjuster that keeps me in the right orbit and at the right altitude in relation to God. It means I am lifted away from the cloying, grasping pull of the old law of the flesh and condemnation.

This is good news!

I’m praying that you find you attitude adjusted to be able to appreciate your adoption in God’s family and that you now live and surrender into the life of the Spirit of God – freedom with Him.

The Rev Canon Mark Carey - Christ Church Bridlington Network