I Am a Child of the King by Tracy Maunsell-Kowald

January 2, 2012

Years ago, I was privileged to be a part of a discipleship study called Sonship. There I learned the phrase, “Why do we act like orphans when we are children of the King?” It was a unique way to learn the basics of the faith and living it out in the world. As with many other Biblical truths, I filed and tucked it away for future use. The only problem is, though I know it to be very true, I rarely “believe” it, as in live in its truth. During a Wednesday night Evensong, we read from Peter about how we are of a Royal Priesthood. We are heirs to the King of Glory and we have the ability to boldly approach the throne of Grace. Yet even in this past month, I tended to recess into my comfortable orphan-like mindset, or as I like to call it, “orphanitis.” It affects my thoughts, words, and actions. I become easily offended when I am insecure about my position. It opens me up to being easily ensnared by the enemy, who would like nothing better than to destroy me. During my morning prayer recently, a Scripture from Hebrews 3 caught my eye and stopped me dead in my tracks:

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

“Evil heart of unbelief and hardened through the deceitfulness of sin?” Was not my sin unbelief in a God I knew and know to be faithful? And yet I live as if he has done nothing or will do nothing for me. I was living and acting like an orphan. I am still doing so even in spite of past experiences that prove otherwise! The hardening of my heart is my cynical response to that which is before me instead of a response of faith. It was a message I left for my dearest of friends when I wrote, “I am feeling like an orphan,” that reminded me that God has called me to live boldly, not sheepishly. I am thankful for the Word that reveals my sin and reminds me of Christ’s forgiveness. I am also thankful for my church family. They accept me for who I am, they pray with me, they encourage me, and they hold my feet to the fire. And when the fire is too hot, they walk through it with me. The past seven months in my life have been life changing.

I am learning who I truly am in Christ, an heir to the throne of Glory, not an orphan.

Posted by All Saints | Filed Under Inspiration-Teaching