I used to see myself simply as a "child of God". I would like to suggest that if that had remained my only view I would miss an important part of the relationship we all should be walking and growing in with our Heavenly Father, we ought also to see ourselves as "bond servants"*.
In scripture Jesus' disciples called themselves "bond servants"(example: Romans 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus), they had been purchased with Jesus' blood and accepted the salvation that they were not able to buy for themselves, (Jesus posted the bond for them!) that put them into debt to the Lord.
If we only focus on being "children of God" we run the chance of becoming extremely "spoiled" and/or "stunted" in our growth. Our expectations become the ones of children who refuse to grow up and move out of their parents household, we run the risk of becoming needy and demanding.
As "bond servants" we're still dependant on our Heavenly Father, but we are doing 'His will' instead of our own, our strength will grow and we will desire to please Him. In our life as a Christian we should continue growing, learning and becoming stronger.
We start as children and grow into the bond servants that are walking in the path our Heavenly Father has desired for us. We are doing the work He has set apart for us! What a glorious thing to be able to live and walk in God's will and accomplish His work! We are then living His will, not our own. We are then not held back as stunted children, but we are pressing forward as His bond servants!
*The term bond servant comes from the word dulos And is defined as:
1. a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
2. one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men, and
3. devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests.
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