Thou art no more a servant, but a son. - Galatians 4:7

It would have been a great mercy if God had made us His servants, after we had proved His enemies; but He has adopted us as His sons, and taken us to the bosom of His love. He is now our Father, and wishes us to call Him so; we are His children, and He wishes us to walk and act as such.

We are not mere servants, therefore we should not be servile; we are sons, therefore we should love, obey, and delight in God as our Father. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." We are delivered form bondage, introduced into favour, have the promise of eternal life, and should rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. It was free grace which adopted us; the Holy Spirit, by the word, begat us to a lively hope; and the gospel proclaims our privileges, and invites us to enjoy them.

Let us today think, "I am a son of God. My Father is holy, His children are holy, His word is holy, He loves holiness, and commands me to be holy; I will therefore lift up my heart to Him; seek grace from Him; and in all things aim to glorify Him."

Pronounce me, gracious God! Thy son, Own me an heir divine: I'll pity princes on the throne, When I can call Thee mine; Sceptres and crowns unenvied rise, And lose their lustre in mine eyes.