We Are Adopted

I highly admire those who choose to adopt children. Not only because of the sacrifices they make, but because of the love they display. Adoption gives children the opportunity to gain a family as well as an improved quality of life. There are some cases of adoption I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand.

Most recently, some friends, Randy and Martha, adopted two little girls from China - Emma and Ali. Both girls are a joy to see every weekend at church and always run up to give me a hug. The greatest thing, though, is seeing the joy-filled faces of Randy and Martha as they watch their girls just being themselves.
 
You and I are also adopted into the family of God. How did we become adopted you may ask? The Bible tells us that by receiving Jesus into our lives and believing in His name we gain the right to become God’s children.

John 1:10-13 says of Jesus,

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” (NIV) 

Our Father in Heaven does not show favoritism between His family members and neither should we. In His eyes we are united together as one family, a family that is connected through His son, Jesus Christ.

To the natural eye it is clear to see that Emma and Ali are adopted because they are of Chinese decent unlike their Caucasian parents. But if you were to close your eyes and only hear their conversations between each other you would never be able to decipher their racial differences.

God’s intentions are clear in Ephesians 1:5,

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” (NLT)

Another way God determines that we are His children is whether or not we are led by His Holy Spirit.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:14-16, NLT)

When Randy and Martha adopted Emma and Ali they became instant parents. And as they are committed to their children, so is God committed to us as His adopted children. He is also a father to the fatherless, loving His children unconditionally. It is comforting to know that regardless of our parent’s failures, we can rest in the unfailing love of our Heavenly Father.

David’s words in Psalm 27:10 reassure us of the Lord’s dedication,

“Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].”(AMP)

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