Beautiful day today.  Almost no clouds, the sun gleaming off the white snow cones of Mt Hood and Mt Adams.

Won’t be long before the trees start budding out and the ground is ready for tilling.

Did see something strange the other day, we were going into the dr’s office when we hear the geese overhead.  They were flying in a straight line, all abreast, no V.  This went on for several minutes – until I lost sight of them.  I had never seen that before, just find it interesting.

Please, if you can give me your insights on the following I would greatly appreciate it, I am not sure I am ‘right’ on what I am mediating on today and I don’t want to take a wrong turn.

While correction is always welcome and I know many of you read my postings without comment, I would particularly appreciate your insights on my post today.

Ephesians 3:5-7 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

⁷ Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

This morning I was thinking about a short statement on the Police Reports a few days ago.

In front of the station there are a couple of parking spots that are to be exclusively used for the police.  There was another car parked there and dispatch requested an officer investigate.

As the officer arrived the owner of the car was getting into it.

The officer made contact and informed him he was parked illegally.  The owner said, at first, he didn’t realize that but shortly admitted that he did, (a sign might have been a clue) however he was a prominent downtown businessman and therefore he was entitled to park there.

Hhhmmmm?

In America we have people that believe they are entitled to anything they want, if another person has been successful and has acquire certain possessions, then they too should be entitled to the same thing, even if they have done nothing to attain it.

If a person has reached a certain stature in the community or country then many think they are entitled to things the ‘regular’ people are not.

The Declaration of Independence declares:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

Attached to the Constitution of the United States are 27 bills of the rights of the citizens (additional to others within the Constitution.)  Guaranteeing those rights to American citizens and have been interpreted that those that are in our country, but  are not American citizens, also have those rights, at least those that apply.

There are many countries that have similar rights in their constitutions, and of course, there are many countries that give no such rights to their people.

What are rights?  Many definitions, but most of us would agree it is something we are entitled to by virtue of our status – and that may actually vary from one person to the next.   

We won’t go into all that – because it just fogs the water of my mind as I meditate on this.

However, as American citizens, some of those rights are enumerated in the Bill of Rights.  Freedom of religion, freedom from self-incriminations, freedom of speech; etc.

But as Christians, what rights do we have?  Does that differ from what we deserve?

Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

As Christians, having accepted the Son of God as our Savior, we have the same privileges as Christ.  The promises that were made to the Jewish people through the years, apply to us, because we are now, as Gentiles, fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

So, basically our rights are as children of God.

Many of the rights enjoyed by Americans are denied by other countries – the right to gather together to worship God, the right to pray in a public places, the right to preach the Gospel, the right to own and read a bible - all things that we may take for granted in American as our right, as a Christian, are not being given to Christians in many countries.

So, are we really entitled to those rights?  In America (now anyway) all religions are given that right, so it is not specific to Christians.

So what are our rights as a Christian?

Interestingly enough I checked several bibles for the word rights, none of them have it – then I looked up entitled, nothing there either.

Now, I realize, there are synonyms and promise may be considered one, and of course joint-heirs has a connotation that has a direct impact on our ‘rights’ as a Christian.

But when we ‘boil’ it all down we, as Christians, have these rights:

We have the right of salvation through the confession of sin, the acceptance of Christ as the sacrifice for those sins and eternal life with Him.

We have the right of unfettered access to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. 

We have the right to be treated as a Son of God, by God.

We have the right to have the Holy Spirit work within our life, comforting and guiding us as we live for Him.

We do not have the right to expect a problem free life, or life without diseases, or life of prosperity; we but have to look around us to see that a Christian is going to go through many things that non-Christians go through.

As Americans we can list many more rights that we as citizens enjoy, that are not given to people in other countries - so we cannot say all Christians are entitled to those rights.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

While we are big on individual rights in our country, it doesn’t necessarily translate to the rights we have as God’s children.

Jesus had a right to give Sermons and teach others about God and His relationship with God.  He was arrested for His impertinence to proclaim He was the Son of God.

Jesus had a right to a fair trial.  It was denied Him.

Jesus had a right NOT to be put to death.  He was tortured and killed anyway.

Jesus had a right to have God take Him out of all this; God didn’t.

We can say ‘Jesus’ rights were violated’ and that would appear to be the case – however, the rights of man – under the laws of a country - are dictated by the decisions of man, and they can be twisted, turned and can be changed (and continually are) by man. 

Are our rights in this country important, absolutely and we should embrace them.  They are the foundation of this country and there are those that are trying to destroy them.

Countries define the rights of their citizens, we may agree or disagree with their mandates, but citizens are treated (or supposes to be treated) the same.

However, countries cannot define the rights of Christians, only God can do that. 

When it comes to our rights and entitlements as Christians those are God given, but only to Christians, only to those that have accepted Christ as Savior; without Christ man really has no rights that he can count on, the rights can be readily changed.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

As far as whether rights are deserved or not:

Romans 6:22-23  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nope.

Later, Art :-)