While working my way through Romans 8 recently, I was struck by how Paul described the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:13-17). I got to thinking about this because I realized that I spent a fair amount of time in Christian ministry thinking of myself as God’s employee rather than as God’s son. I believe my confusion on this point is the confusion of many other Christians, whether “in ministry” or not. Paul contrasts the “Spirit of adoption” with what he sa