Journey of Sonship

Okay, gentlemen, now let as look at the journey of sonship in terms of the path of mutual Glory. Let me explain. When walking with God, we should do so not for our own sakes, but for the sake of the Heavenly Father. It is the mission of the Father we are to carry out. It is His itinerary we are called to sustain—all for His glory. Spiritually, every man desires to culminate his life in honor of his father; thus, those words of Jesus resound: “I have glorified thee on earth; having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do” (Jn 17:4). Every man realizes there is something beyond himself that he is to accomplish. Whatever the mission, the Father bestows it, and it is He who is exalted when it is completed. Nonetheless, this glory, realized for the sake of the Father, was accomplished not simply in view of the work carried out by the Son, but by the Father’s own work in the Son. The glory of the Father was manifest in the Son, certainly in all His deeds, but especially in what the Father engendered in the Son. Glory was imparted to the Son to make the ultimate sacrifice, and in so doing, return the glory to His Father. “Before His death, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, 98Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee,..’” (Jn 17:1). My brothers, you are called to glorify your Heavenly Father in all your words, in all your thoughts, and in all your actions—in your particular mission. But as with the Son, this glory will be brought out foremost through the Father’s work in you. To the Father be given the credit of glory: “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me…” (Jn 8:54). Til our deaths, we will deeply yearn to give and receive this validating gift of glory. Ours is to allow it to channel both ways as best we can....

Allright gentlemen, it is good to be back with you. In continuing the journey of sonship, and continuing to look at the paradigm of our Our Lord with his Heavenly Father, we need to look at how it is that our Lord pursued his sonship mission by carrying out the will of the Father, following His commandments, and the mission He bestowed.

Fathoming Christ’s entire life as oriented toward accomplishing the tasks and mission of His Father’s will is an integral part of divine sonship. The journey of communion with the Father is to not only know Him, but also to do what he commands. In this way, one can find that
peace and contentment he desires. “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:9-11). No question, our completeness as sons is accomplished when we realize the summons of our fathers—that one in heaven as well as on earth.

Certainly, what the Heavenly Father requires is oftentimes difficult; yet, upon our shoulders should faith be placed that the Father is with us—that He will guide us and strengthen us in the mission to which He directs us. This was the test of His only begotten Son on the journey
to Calvary. The test of the Christian man is to face the sturdiest hardships, even unto death, in obedience to the Father. “So Jesus said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him” (Jn 8:28-29). What is fearsome to all men is to put that trust in God the Father that He will assist us in even the worst of trials. The way of the cross gives us that paradigm to follow; supplying the image of strength. And when we accept it, the Father is pleased.

So go now, and move forward in this part of your journey of sonship....