Monday, May 26, 2008

Choosing Adoption

You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!"

Galatians 4:4-5 (The Message)

The joy of the new parents is evident. Their arms hold the tiny "bit of clay" that has consumed their prayers for two years. Paper mountains have been climbed, intrusive questions have been answered, parent quality evaluations have been addressed, gut-wrenching nerves have been battled; all for the sake of this baby. They have adopted a son.

It can be difficult to wrap one’s mind around the concept of adoption and its significance for the Jesus follower. If we were created in the image of God and belong to him why would adoption be part of this relationship?

Adoption is a proactive, intentional choice. From personal experience, it is a decision that isn’t taken lightly. Here is a relationship that doesn’t have to be. A conscious choice is made to be in relationship with a child with whom you have absolutely no connection nevertheless you love--unconditionally, unashamedly, unreservedly.

When my husband and I were adopting several people asked, "Don’t you want to just wait and keep trying for one of your own?" Absolutely not! We would have missed an amazing relationship with our daughter as well as a poignant spiritual lesson--God chose to be in relationship with us.

We were created "in" God’s image, we were not created "from" Him. God, in adopting us, chooses to make us His own. Instead He is in relationship with us, loving us unconditionally, unashamedly, unreservedly.

It’s amazing! It’s because of our adoption that we can call the Creator of the world--Papa! Father!


Papa! Father!
Thank you for adopting me,
and making me
Your child.
Amen.

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