“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1-2).
Even though we are God’s creation, we are not naturally born as God’s children. Becoming a child in God’s family is a gift of divine grace and becomes realized only as the Spirit of God leads us.
The apostle Paul clearly states that we have received a great gift, a tremendous gift, when God adopted us into His family. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. …the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14-15).
I believe you will agree that one of the most blessed privileges we will ever experience is to be a part of a loving family. So, what does it mean to be adopted into God’s family? I do not think there is a more beautiful image of God’s love for us than the image of adoption as portrayed in this story.
Tina was an adopted child. One day, while at school in the second grade, Tina was teased by her classmates about being adopted. Tina went home that day in tears, not knowing how to react to the other children telling her that her parents were not her real mom and dad. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Tina walked in the back door of her home and was greeted by a worried mother. “What is wrong?” her mother asked. Tina told the story of being teased at school about not having real parents and not being as good as the other children because of it. Tina’s wise mother took Tina into her arms and told her that all of those other children were born into their families and their parents had absolutely no choice about the child they got. “But” said her mother, “we got to choose you because you were so special.”
In his several letters, the apostle Paul repeatedly reminds us that each one of us is incredibly special to God, and for that reason he chose and claimed us as his very own child. However, we are not naturally born into God’s righteous family but are adopted into it by God’s choice in Jesus Christ.
Since child adoption was not a Jewish practice, Paul uses the image of “adoption” from the Greek and Roman society to describe what happens to the Christian believer. The adopted child had no natural or legal claim of membership in the adoptee’s family, but received a gift of full, family membership through adoption.
Likewise, we have no natural claim in God’s family. Yet in his divine love and grace, God extends a legal and loving hand toward us, inviting us into his family. As adopted children, we are given all the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of family membership. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.”
Words and phrases like “children of God, sons of God, heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ” indicate that we belong to God. We belong to God in every way. Our sin debt is canceled. God’s home is our home, and we can address the infinite creator God as “Abba, Father.”
Thus, we can say those words and mean them, relating to God as father because we are family. This is an awesome privilege! To be passionately loved by a Father who desires an intimate relationship with his children, is a precious gift of amazing grace. How can we not say, “Thank you, Jesus!”
Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him be-long, they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
Let that truth enter into, overflow, and propel your worship today and your work tomorrow. You know who you are. You know that God’s Spirit within you testifies with your spirit that you are a member of God’s family. (Rm. 8:16). Look closely and see yourself in this bigger picture. Amen!
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 24, 2023
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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