Your Adoption Story
The Bible uses the actual word "adopt" quite sparingly but refers to the concept much more often.
Some may say that http://www.adoption.com/ was simply making an effort to show God is on their side based on an article last summer entitled, “Does God Believe in Adoption,” by Kay Green. In it Green mentioned that the Bible uses the actual word “adopt” quite sparingly but refers to the concept much more often. Perhaps that is good publicity for promoting adoption. But, better yet, it’s a great reminder for all of us as we anticipate two special days this coming week: Ascension Day and Mothers’ Day.
Green correctly points out that when the Bible speaks about adoption it always involves a positive, gracious act that is part of God’s plan.
She writes, “Moses, for example, was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:1-10). His adoption, though sad for his Israelite parents, was part of God’s overall plan for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.” That is, indeed, a gracious act that is part of God’s plan.
Green continues, “Esther was also an adoptee. We are told that when her parents died, Mordecai, her cousin, took her in as his own daughter and adopted her (Esther 2:15). This adoption also led to a wonderful deliverance of the people of God!” Another gracious act that is part of God’s plan.
“And in a way,” Green writes, “wasn’t Jesus an adoptee? Joseph, who raised Jesus as his own, was not his biological father.” Finally she adds the clincher, “But the best and most important biblical adoption story of all is that there is only one way for us to enter the kingdom of God – we must become God’s adopted children through Jesus Christ.” Again, a gracious act that is part of God’s plan.
You can argue how interrelated the deliverance events of the Israelites above were to the adoptions of Moses and Esther, but God made it part of the event nonetheless. And, as a whole, the event is the gracious act of God taking care of people who need help, forgiveness, rescue, and hope that only he can give.
That’s the kind of support the disciples were used to receiving from Jesus while he was on this earth. But then after he rose from the dead he said he’d be leaving. “I will not leave you as orphans,” he promised before he ascended (John 14:18). The disciples, and all believers, would continue to receive necessary help, relieving forgiveness, timely rescue, and heavenly hope from Jesus even though his presence among them would be invisibly real instead of physically real. Like an adoption parent, Jesus is too strongly attached to us to turn his back on us now. He truly cares. He’ll always be there. A gracious act that is part of God’s plan.
Here’s another clincher. It’s part of your story and of God’s plan. Do some adopting in your life. Children, perhaps, if that’s your situation. But I’m thinking in more general terms of your thinking and decision making and relating to others. Adopt – that is, take to be your own because you choose to care – God-pleasing characteristics. And never leave them orphaned again. Adopt some Spirit-produced control for your temper. Adopt some Christ-filled courage for your timidity. Adopt some Father-reliant regularity to your prayer life. Adopt some Christian friends who share your inner, perhaps secretive, passion for the Christian faith. Adopt a temptation fighting technique against your favorite sin. Adopt a new saying to use that opens up more opportunities to share your faith. All gracious acts that are part of God’s plan.
God has made you his own. Then make his ways your own. That’s a good plan.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am honored to be part of your family, adopted by the service and sacrifice of Jesus Christ into your kingdom. Inspire me with your committed and unconditional love. Give me courage to be strong and faith to be gentle, give me the wisdom to make good decisions and the humility to understand when I need help. Look with special favor on all adoptive parents and children in our world, and every effort to find a loving home for orphans and neglected or abused children. Finally, use whatever I have as an offering to you and a contribution to your gracious plan, whenever needed, and open my heart to give it freely. Amen.