When we are born into this world, we are born into a human family.
When we are born into the world of the Spirit, we are born into a royal family, the family of God. We become the child of a King.
All human babies need to be fed, even those born into a royal family. Those who are born into the world of the spirit - the children of the Holy Spirit - must also be fed. This seed of His Spirit which we receive when we accept Jesus into our hearts must be fed and watered with the Word of God in order to grow. God's words are found in the Bible, in a church, and among true followers. Human, adopted children begin to act and look like their parents, so the "adopted" sons of God (Eph.1:5) begin to act and look like Jesus as they grow into maturity. If they can receive enough nourishment to grow beyond rebellious teenagers who insist on selfishly seeking after worldly things, they become mature members of a royal household.
When we go to a store to buy something, we pay the cashier the price marked on it. In the same way, Jesus paid the price of death on a cross so that you and I could be set free from sin and death. In that death, Jesus suffered as a man, not drawing on the divine part of His nature; He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me" (Luke 22:42). His entire life on earth was lived without drawing on His deity (Heb.2:14) as He did nothing which He has not empowered His followers to do; He is our perfect example of how to live. He prayed often to His Father God (Luke 6:12). He was tempted (Luke 4:1-13). He was sometimes tired (Mark 6:31), was troubled and wept when His friend died (John 11:33-35). Jesus himself confirmed this when He said, "Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing, and will do even greater things than these" (John 14:12). "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed" (Rom.8:19). You and I can become "heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ" (Rom.8:17).
Jesus also said, "These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands, and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt them at all, they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well" (Mark 16:17:18). God's true followers have been known to rebuke the winds and waves as Jesus did, and Jesus admonished Peter for his lack of faith for being unable to walk on the water during a storm on the Lake of Galilee. In biblical times, as well as today, believers have prayed to God and He has raised people from the dead.
Jesus prayed for His church "that all of them may be one" (John 17:22-23). His prayer is being answered in our day as millions of Christians around the world are joining hands and hearts to become one great family. Church denomination is becoming less important as we are understanding what Jesus meant about how to spot the believers as we see miracles, signs and wonders visibly demonstrated in every corner of the globe. Of course, we must be aware that the evil world has its counterfeits for all of God's good gifts and we need to be able to discern the difference.
Jesus told us, "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt.5:48). We must become like Jesus whose glory was shown to the disciples on that holy mountain as He was transfigured before them (Matt.17:2). Just as the glory shone from Him, true sons of Jesus DO shine with a radiance, love, and power not of this world.
If only we could realize who we are and what we can become! We have been created "a little lower than the heavenly beings" (Ps.8:5). We are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9), and are children of a King who is setting up His Kingdom in the hearts of His people.
© 1999, Doreen Palmer