SHUT UP!

This was a big line in one of the best movies I saw in Jr High. The Princess Diaries. This movie follows the story of Amelia Rinaldi, or Princess Mia, who was raised as the daughter of a struggling artist. On her 16th birthday she learns she is a princess. Her response? "SHUT UP!" Which we were quickly reminded means "OH MY!", "GEE WHIZ!", "GOLLY WHOLLY!", etc.
The movie shows how Mia struggles with her new identity, and almost gives up her position, but eventually she realizes that she was born to rule, just like her father.
Well, guess what my dear sisters (and I suppose my brothers, though I no of no male bloggers who read this), as Christians, we are not very different from Mia. Galatians 3:29 says: "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." We were born (and born again) to be princesses, royalty, just like our Heavenly Father. This is the new identity we must come to terms with.
This week, our blog journey is not only going to focus on what I am studying in Galatians, but also a chapter that is one of my personal favorites: Romans 8. This may seem like a strange passage to pick for this topic. It's definitely not the common, but it's the one that spoke so strongly to me. And there is a beautiful picture of our domain.
OK, the chapter starts by explaining that we are no longer controlled by sin. We are no longer under the laws of this world (just like Mia's grandmother had diplomatic immunity). We now belong to Christ (who, by the way, is a Prince). Just like Jesus told St. Nick (Nicodemus that is), we must be "born again" (John 3:1-21). We are re-born as princesses into the royal family.
In case you doubt you are truly able to be called royalty, look at Romans 8:15-16.
"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 out spirit that we are God's children."
That word, Abba, is best translated into English as "Daddy", or "Dad".
Galatians 4:6-7 says, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hears, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
I have a great dad. Often, I don't appreciate him enough, but when I am in trouble, He's the first person I call. Why? Because he's my Daddy, and he's there to comfort me and help me. Yes, sometimes he's there to direct me to a better route or remind me of what the Bible says. To convict, and when I was younger, to discipline me. But even when I am upset with him, I know that he would DO ANYTHING FOR ME.
That's how we should see God. He's our Daddy. If you doubt this spend time in prayer and let your spirit confirm what you know to be true by the Bible. This is important. God is a Judge, but as Christians, we need to remember that we are no longer condemned. God sees us as his beloved children.
Now let's look at the next idea. We are heirs. Galatians says so; we just read that. And Romans 8 says that too. Look at verse 17: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ ... that we may also share in his glory."
Did you get that? We are co-heirs with Christ. SHUT UP! It's OK, you can say it. We share in His glory! You are a princess! And your kingdom, God's kingdom, our kingdom, is everything!
This was God's plan from day one (read Genesis 1 and 2). But after that fall, "creation was subjected to frustration" (verse 20).
Look at that again. This earth, all the beautiful beaches and mountains and flowers, and the universe, the moon, planets, sun, stars, it's all for us. God created it for his glory, but also for our pleasure. And right now all of creation is waiting for us to be redeemed, and they are waiting for Christ to return us to our rightful place so they too can be "liberated from ... bondage to decay" (verse 21).
SHUT UP!
So that's out identity, and our inheritance. Why would we deny it? Why would Mia even consider giving up her crown? Because there is more. We have a responsibility... and a struggle.
Verse 17 speaks of a struggle that comes before the glory. It is very real. For a long time, I identified more with a struggling soldier than with a beautiful princess. Verse 22 says our spirits "groan within". Waiting for the day when we can live in our full glory, the way God has planned.
But we are on God's side. The all-powerful King, Lord of all is not only our Father, He's our Daddy. and it's because of that we can say, "What then shall we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all things?" (Verses 31-32)
Like Mia, we ca accept the tiara we were born (again) to wear. Because we too have a royal Father, who has promised us a great inheritance.