All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. 15 You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “ Abba, Father. ” 16 The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. 17 But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him.
Lillian C. Smith is a wife and mother of two young sons. Currently serving as Director of Connectional Ministries, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, she formerly served as first Associate General Secretary, Division on Ministries with Young People, General Board of Discipleship. In addition to contributing to 365 Meditations for Women by Women, she has written Sunday school curriculum for youth. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family.