A man walks down to the market in Bethsaida, an old and established town, to sell some items from the family business.
Nothing out of the ordinary here. It’s pretty standard for Japheth to do this today. In fact, the only two days he missed were when his father died, and when his son was born. That’s it. It’s been 44 years running he has been coming here: same day of the week, same time, and for most of those years the same produce and carvings.
He didn’t inherit the business, it was GIVEN to him. Seems odd to think of this in today’s terms, because he was only 13 when he got it. THIRTEEN. And his father was still alive and well.
When I was 13, I was goofing off at our farm, riding my bike, and trying to get out of chores. There was little thought in my mind of looking after ‘business’.
Today was a very special day for Japheth, though. He brought a long time guest to the market today. Someone that had visited the family market stand for many years, and today was going to open a new book there. A book the guest would be writing, not reading. The same type of book Japheth began to write 31 years before.
You see, after having 3 daughters, Japheth and Rafika had a son, their last child. Today was the declaration of the sonship of this child. Today was the day that the business was GIVEN to Eli. Today Eli turns 13.
For Japheth, his father had great pleasure in introducing the new owner. It was customary to hand the reigns to the eldest son in the family when he came ‘of age’, and Japheth knew this full well. It was a time of great anticipation for him, just as it was a great pleasure for his father. It was a sign of growing up, but more a sign of trust. A sign of family pride. A sign of SONSHIP.
All this changed things for Japheth and Eli; some things anyway. Other things did not change at all. Eli was always and will forever be a child of Japheth. This day of change will have no effect on that. But this is the day that Eli will be introduced to the whole marketplace as the SON of Japheth and Rafika.
Now he will be a speaking member of the family. A member of the family who Japheth will declare deserves all the respect shown him as father. A member of the family who will now speak for and decide on family business and family matters. A member of the family who RECEIVED this ability on this day.
Eli, on the other hand will have a total change of person through this experience. He will be the family voice, to whom his FATHER will give much responsibility and honor. Although it is clear to Eli that he will not be left alone in the process, a fact that he is sure of to the core, he is feeling the road ahead is largely unknown, and a bit scary and uncertain, yet has direction and purpose. It’s a very exciting and humbling day for sure.
Parallel now this story with your story, or the story yet awaiting you.
You are Eli. You are either waiting for your day, having your day today, or have been there already.
Your position as a child of your father is known, secure, and unshakable, but receiving your SONSHIP is in the front and center of your attention. In this sonship, you have a new and intimate relationship with your father that leads to much learning, much trust, much leaning. A relationship that reaps rewards for you and your father like no one had anticipated. A relationship that is alive. A relationship that is new; something different than you had as one of the children; a recognition of received favor and responsibility, yet loving and special.
Bringing this closer yet to home for each of us, let’s consider for a moment that I (you) am a Christ-follower. I (you) know that I am a child of God. I am in HIS family.
Now ask yourself the question “Am I ready to RECEIVE the business of this family?” “Can I step up and open my arms and take hold of this SONSHIP that my Father God is giving me?”
God, your Father is ready to let you speak for Him, and carry on His business. You have been a child for a good while, and he has slowly prepared you for this task. You will not be left alone in it. He will guide and direct as He has ALREADY laid out the plan for you to follow. WILL YOU TAKE IT?
Read this: (short versions here, links to full versions)
Galatians 4:1-7
…the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father… But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, …that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son.
Romans 8:15,16
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave… but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
We feel like Eli on his day. We feel like we are ready and anticipating, yet fearful of what may lie ahead. We want to speak for the father in his business, and yet don’t want to say the wrong thing.
Eli KNOWS his father. He has watched him work in his business for many years, and his father TRUSTS him to follow his example with the tools prepared for him. Eli can’t fail. This pattern has been working for generations.
Do you KNOW your Father in Heaven? He knows you and has planned this day for you for a long time. He has left nothing out. He is ready, and he is GIVING you the sonship. RECEIVE it today and take it seriously. You know that you know what the Father wants you to say and do in His business. He has an intimate and loving relationship with you to help you carry out this task.
Be an Eli. This might be your day.