Embracing God's Unconditional Love: The Heart of Spiritual Sonship
Here I am, chilling in my Pennsylvania home, with photos of my grandchildren and memories from 50 years in ministry all around me. I'm thinking back to a key moment in my spiritual journey. It happened at a women's retreat about 35 years ago when I really got what Jack Frost means by "spiritual sonship."
I'd always understood in my head that God loved me, but that weekend, as we explored scriptures about God's fatherly love, something changed in my heart. I recall sitting by a lake, feeling overwhelmed as I realized God loved me not because of what I did, but just because I was His. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders—I didn't have to earn His love; I already had it.
This experience totally changed how I do ministry and how I connect with God. It's the same kind of transformation that Jack Frost talks about in his teachings on spiritual sonship. Let me tell you how this idea can turn everything around:
The Foundation of Sonship: Unconditional Love
Frost highlights that being a son or daughter of God is all about experiencing His unconditional love. It's not just a sweet thought—it's a game-changer. When you really get that God loves you for who you are, not for what you do, it totally changes how you connect with Him.
I remember a woman in one of my Bible studies who always felt she had to earn God's approval. Learning about His unconditional love freed her from constant striving and allowed her to rest in His acceptance.
Finding Rest and Security
One of the great things about being a son or child of God is the security it provides. Frost puts it as "a heart that feels at rest and secure in God's love." It makes me think of how my grandkids feel when they come over—totally relaxed and sure of our love for them.
A Daily Experience of Love
Being a true son or daughter of God isn't just something you realize once; it's something you experience every day. Frost says it's about waking up each morning knowing you're totally loved and accepted by the Father. This daily reassurance shapes how we live and how we treat others.
The Power of Personal Encounter
While understanding God's love intellectually is important, Frost stresses the need for a heartfelt, personal experience of God's fatherly love. This reminds me of John 1:12, which says, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
Healing and Transformation
Experiencing God's fatherly love as His child can really help heal old relationship wounds. I've seen this healing happen for many women over the years. They've let God's love change their "orphan tendencies" into the confident actions of someone who knows they're loved.
Freedom and Purpose
In the end, embracing sonship gives you a deep feeling of freedom and purpose. Knowing you're unconditionally loved boosts your confidence to live out your God-given destinies.
To wrap it up, Jack Frost's insights on spiritual sonship show you how experiencing God's love can totally change your lives. It's more than just an idea; it's something real you can live every day. When you accept that you're God's beloved son or daughter, you discover peace, healing, and meaning in His never-ending love.
Resources:
[1] https://www.bookey.app/book/spiritual-slavery-to-spiritual-sonship
[2] https://www.sksbooks.com/products/experiencing-the-father-a-s-love-a-daily-encounter-with-him/
[3] https://www.ccu.edu/blogs/cags/category/devotionals/the-power-of-gods-fatherly-love/
[4] https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/6217.Jack_Frost
[5] https://www.penningtonpark.com/three-examples-of-gods-fatherly-love/
[6] https://faithlife.com/store/product/54691/spiritual-slavery-to-sonship-expanded-edition-your-destiny-awaits-you
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