Scripture Reading: Romans 8:12-17

It’s only been ten days since Steve Jobs died and I’m still mourning the loss.  I’ve followed his life and career for the last 28 years, ever since I used one of his first computers, an Apple Lisa (the predecessor to the Mac), to write a poem (complete with text and graphics) to my college sweetheart at the time (now my wife of 22 years).

It was an experience that changed my view of computers, and my major in college, and my eventual career.  I no longer saw computers as cold, sterile, and unmerciful machines.  Instead, I began to see them as devices that could help me give expression to some of my innermost thoughts and feelings.

Today, 28 years later, I’m still using one of Steve Jobs’ computers to give expression to my innermost thoughts and feelings, now using them to encourage people all over the world to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.

I’ve written to Steve a couple of times in recent years to thank him for the impact he’s had on my life and, by extension, the lives of so many others, as I use his computers to reach out around the world.  I’ve also prayed for him and shared my faith in Christ with him in those letters, hoping to give to him the best blessing I can think of in return for the blessing he’s been to me.  I don’t know if he ever did put his faith in Christ or not, but my hope and prayer is that at some point he did.

Although Steve’s time of decision has come and gone, there’s still time for you to make yours.  If you haven’t yet put your faith in Christ for everything in your life, especially for the forgiveness of your sins, I’d encourage you to do it today.

Jesus told the story of a rich man and a beggar, both of whom died about the same time.  Jesus said:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:19-31).

There are times when I wish we could get into heaven based on all the good we’ve done in our lives.  But when I remember how much we’ve all sinned, I’m thankful that it’s not based on what we’ve done in life, for none of us have a perfect moral scorecard.  Instead, it’s based on our faith in the One who gave us life, and our acceptance of the sacrifice that has been made for our sins.  As Jesus said to Martha when her brother died:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

It has always been this way.  God has always required a sacrifice for our sins in order to escape the penalty that we would have received otherwise.  Even in the days when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God didn’t tell them to write their good deeds on the doorframes of their homes.  He told them to put the blood of a lamb on their doorframes, as a sign of their faith in Him.  Then, when He saw that sign, He would “pass over” their homes and not bring upon them the destruction that they would have received otherwise (see Exodus 12).

Why then do people not put their faith in Christ?  Sometimes people have an intellectual block that keeps them from doing it.  But other times there’s a more practical reason: they simply don’t have a good example of what a loving father looks like, which makes it hard for them to believe that there’s a loving Father in heaven who cares about them deeply, too.

I don’t know much about Steve Jobs’ personal life, but I do know that he was given up for adoption at birth.  His biological parents were unmarried college students at a time when abortion was still illegal in the U.S.  His biological mother left the University of Wisconsin and went to San Francisco to give birth, where Steve was adopted by his new parents.

When Steve eventually discovered who his biological parents were, he made contact with his mother and his biological sister, with whom he later became close friends.  But according to his biological father, Steve never did make contact with him, even up to Steve’s death.

I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve heard from some of my friends who have been adopted that they sometimes wrestle with feelings of abandonment and self-worth, wondering why their parents might have given them up for adoption.  In some cases, this sense of worthlessness can drive them to prove their worth in other ways.

I have no idea if this was a factor in Steve Jobs’ own personal drive, yet if it was, he went after it with gusto.  By this time last year, the company he helped to create had become worth more than any other technology company in the world, and just a few months ago, it became the most valuable company of any industry, based on the value of it’s stock.  More important than building a thriving company, Steve’s life has influenced millions of other lives around the world like a huge tidal wave, touching lives of people who didn’t even know who he was until this week.

But Steve Jobs life didn’t become more valuable as his stock price and market influence grew.  The truth is, his life was worth more than even he could have ever imagined even before he started his famous computer company in his garage. His Father in heaven had placed a value on him before anyone but God Himself even knew he was alive.

It’s the same for you.  God has loved you since before you were born.  Your life is worth more to Him than you can imagine, and has had immeasurable value since before you even had a chance to make your mark on the world.  God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for your sins so you wouldn’t have to, inviting you back into a personal relationship with Him if you’ll just put your faith in Christ.

This is perhaps the most important part of today’s message:  when you put your faith in Christ, God adopts you as His son or daughter.  When you put your faith in Christ, you become an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ.  You receive from God the “Spirit of sonship,” which includes the full rights and privileges of a son or daughter, as well the ability to see God as the truly loving Father that He is.  The apostle Paul describes this Spirit of sonship like this:

“…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs―heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:12-17).

What difference does it make to be able to view God in your mind as the loving Father that He is?  All the difference in the world.  Paul uses the word “Abba” in his description of God, an Aramaic word that means “Daddy.”  It’s a term of endearment.  It describes a relationship that is not just a father and a son who are connected by birth, but who are connected by true affection for one another.

My younger kids will often call me “Daddy.”  It’s a truly affectionate term.  Every once in a while, even my teenagers will still call me “Daddy,” whether it’s my nineteen year old son writing an email to me from college, or my seventeen year old daughter using her most playful voice to tell me I’m doing something silly.  It always warms my heart when they do this, to think that they not only see me as their father, but also as their “Abba,” their “Daddy.”

That’s the kind of relationship God the Father wants to have with you.  He doesn’t want to be a distant and formal father, but a close and familiar one—a “Daddy”—a “Daddy” you can trust and run to and lean on whenever you need to.

Although God wants you to make the most of your life here on earth, and to use the gifts and abilities that He’s given you to their fullest, you don’t have to create a multi-billion dollar corporation to prove your worth to Him and to enter into that sweet relationship with Him.  You just have to believe in Him, putting your faith in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And when you do, you’ll be given the Spirit of sonship, and become adopted as His son or daughter, with all the rights and privileges that go along with it.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, you’ve already been adopted as His child. Your role now is to believe it and receive it, letting it’s truth sink deep into your life and heart today.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to do it today and receive God’s Spirit of sonship right now.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us Your Spirit of sonship when we put our faith in Christ.  We pray that You will help solidify what that means in our lives today, helping us to know that You really do care about us, that we have worth just by being one of Your children, and that You will strengthen us by that same Spirit in our lives today.  Thank You Daddy.  We love you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:12-17.  What images come to mind when you think of the word “Daddy”?  How would using the word “Daddy” to describe God change your relationship with Him, compared to other words you could use for Him?

2.  What are some of the benefits Paul lists in this passage of receiving the Spirit of sonship?

3.  What difference would it make to think of yourself as an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ?

4.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, what benefits do you see of being adopted by God?  Why not put your faith in Christ today and receive from God His Spirit of sonship?