January 13, 2026 

In Romans 8:14-16, Paul reminds the church that those led by the Spirit of God are God’s children. We have not received a spirit of fear that drives us back into slavery, but the Spirit of adoption. That same Spirit assures us that we belong to God, not as servants trying to earn approval, but as children who are fully claimed and loved.

Devotional: It’s easy to slip into treating our relationship with God like a job. We focus on what’s required, worry about getting it wrong, and quietly wonder if we’re doing enough to stay in good standing. When life goes smoothly, we assume we must be doing something right. When things fall apart, we start questioning everything, including ourselves.

Paul speaks directly into that mindset in Romans 8. He draws a sharp contrast between fear and belonging. One way of living is driven by anxiety, always wondering where we stand. The other is shaped by the Spirit, grounded in the confidence that we belong to God as His children. Those are very different ways of walking through life.

Fear-based faith keeps score. It tallies success and failure. It assumes God is watching closely, waiting to respond based on our performance. That kind of faith can wear us down. It leaves us tired, guarded, and unsure. We may keep showing up, but inside we’re constantly bracing ourselves.

Paul says that’s not what God intends. The Spirit we’ve received doesn’t push us back into fear. It doesn’t treat us like hired hands who can be dismissed at any moment. The Spirit adopts us. That’s a strong word. Adoption isn’t temporary or conditional. It’s a deliberate choice to claim someone fully and permanently.

This connects beautifully to the story of Jesus’ baptism. Before Jesus steps into ministry, God names Him as His Son. That declaration isn’t about duty. It’s about relationship. Jesus doesn’t serve because He’s afraid of losing His place. He serves because He knows exactly where He belongs.

Our baptism speaks the same truth over us. We are not trying to earn our way into God’s household. We’re already part of it. That doesn’t mean obedience doesn’t matter, but it changes why we obey. We’re not motivated by fear of rejection. We’re shaped by trust and gratitude.

Living as God’s children gives us freedom. Freedom to be honest about our struggles. Freedom to admit when we don’t have answers. Freedom to grow without the pressure of perfection. When we know we belong, we don’t have to pretend we’ve got it all together.

The Spirit’s role is to keep reminding us of this truth, especially when fear creeps back in. When shame tells us we’re falling short. When comparison convinces us we don’t measure up. The Spirit whispers again, You are God’s child. You belong here.

Today, pay attention to what’s driving your faith. Is it fear or trust? Pressure or peace? God isn’t asking you to prove yourself. God is inviting you to live like someone who knows they’re already loved.

Action: Notice where fear shows up in your faith. Ask God to replace it with trust rooted in knowing you belong to Him.

Prayer: Loving God, thank You for calling us Your children. Free us from fear and the need to prove ourselves. Help us live with trust, confidence, and gratitude, guided by Your Spirit. We place our lives in Your hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thought for the Day: God calls us children, not employees.

Faith shaped by fear will always feel heavy. Romans 8 reminds us that God doesn’t treat us like hired hands, but like children. This devotional invites us to release fear and live from the confidence that we belong to God.

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