ALL CREATION IS GROANING

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:22-23 NASB

In the book of Romans, we read that all creation is groaning for three things. First, it is to see the manifestation of the mature sons of God. Creation longs to see these redeemed sons taking on the identity of their Father. Second, all creation is groaning for the redeemed family of God to take on the identity of the Godhead in humility and unity, expressing healthy family. Third, all of creation is groaning for a holy nation, the church, to rise up in the earth with its arms around the world, inviting every people group into the family of God.

This is the comprehensive purpose in the earth, and there is no doubt God has the power to accomplish it. Don’t you like the fact that God is pretty confident in His ability? I like it. This is God’s power to change the identity of people, families, and nations.

As we look at Romans chapter 8, we read that God did not give us the spirit of religious duty. Aren’t you glad? You have been set free from the religious performance treadmill. God loves you, not for what you do, but for who you are. God doesn’t just have love; He is love. So that means He has decided to love us, and He will not change His mind.

I am so grateful to be off all forms of perfectionism and being driven by performance. Earning affection is not necessary in God’s Kingdom, and that goes on to say, you didn’t receive the spirit of religious duty, leading you back into the fear of never being good enough.

Have you ever felt the torment of not being good enough? I think this is common among humans. The Lord has an antidote for that. He says you’ve received the spirit of full acceptance or the spirit of adoption.

In folding you into the family of God, you will never have to feel like an orphan. As He rises up within you, your spirit will join Him saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father.” I love the title of Holy Spirit in this Romans 8 passage – the spirit of full acceptance, or in King James, the spirit of adoption. This has a powerful meaning. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to reveal to you how much affection the Father has for you.

God loves you for who you are, not for what you do, and He doesn’t stop loving you if you do bad things. He is not inspired to love you if you do good things, either. He has decided to love you, and He’s not changing his mind. He is a big-hearted Father who knows we can be slow learners. For some reason, humanity is very slow at learning that the Father feels affection for us. He has deployed the spirit of adoption to convince us, by repetition, about the Father’s affection for us.

Today, as all creation is groaning, we declare this is the day for you to have a personal encounter with the Father’s love and affection for you. May this revelation bring increasing health and wholeness to you and empower you to walk in the fullness of your identity as a son or daughter of God.

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