“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…..that we might receive the adoption as sons.”  Galatians 4:5

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.”  John 1:12

There is something kind of strange in the United States and for all I know it may also take place in other places around the world.  It is the stigma associated in the process of adoption; especially toward those who are adopted.  Now it’s not talked about or makes a lot of press.  But in doing a little research it is very interesting how significantly adopted children feel that they are stigmatized in American society.  There is a significant number who feels that society looks down upon them, treats them differently, that they are somehow lessor than those who are living with their biological parents.  Now please, please understand I neither wish to offend those who are adopted nor the parents of those who have placed children up for adoption. I understand there may be some from both those groups who read this and don’t feel that way at all and that is fantastic.

So why bring it up at all?  Because as children of God Almighty, we are all adopted.  Again I say, but really it’s scripture that states it that matters; those beside Jesus Christ, who are children of God only have that status through adoption.

Understand, we started out as all other things in the universe as creations of God.  There is only one Son and John tells us He has always been with God.  We were creations in the person of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Yet, Our Heavenly Father, in His ultimate mercy, love and wisdom, desired and desires a closer relationship with us.  He wanted and wants us to be His children.  Yet it was not He who did not meet the adoptive requirements.  It was us, the children.  Because of sin we could never enter into a full relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  He was very clear with His law how we could go about being good enough.  Though we were never able to keep His law to allow us the perfection required to have that deeper relationship.  Again that separation was not acceptable to Our Heavenly Father.

What’s a perspective adoptive Father to do?  If it is a human parent, they probably try for awhile then give up; but not our Heavenly Father.  Scripture tells us, that in the fullness of time, Our Heavenly Father accomplished what we never could.  Plus please understand just what an amazing effort it took to allow us to come into a relationship of being His children.  First, because no perfection existed on earth, perfection had to come down from heaven.  So Our Heavenly Father sent His only True, Begotten Son, Jesus Christ down to earth.  Now talk about Fatherly Love, Jesus Christ was going to have to take the sins of all humanity on his shoulders; take on every sin that has or will be committed and then take the punishment for that sin, which is death.  It was only through His taking the guilt and paying the price for our sins that we could become guiltless and hence come into a relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  And you want to talk brotherly love, Jesus Christ, willingly, lovingly, went to the cross for yours and mine sake.

Thus, no matter our earthly circumstances, we should be absolutely certain of this.  We have a Heavenly Father who loves us.  He loves us individually.  He loves us by name.  He loves us so much that He wants us to not just be His creation, but He wants us to be His children.  And He is willing to go to the greatest lengths to make that happen.

Now briefly, some worldly people might say:  “Oh great, look what God did to His own Son, I guess I can expect the same treatment for me!”  Let’s make no mistake about this; only one death could achieve the miracle of redemption.  Only the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has allowed our salvation and no other death is necessary.

And what does He want in return?  Only that we believe in Jesus Christ as the one True Begotten Son of God and that we receive Him as our Savior.  Once we’ve committed to that then we are born again of the Spirit into adopted children of Our Heavenly Father.  A Perfect Father, an all knowing Father, a Father who longs to pour out His Love, Peace and Blessings upon us.  A Heavenly Father asking that we love Him in return and share His love with each other.

I, for one, am glad to be adopted.  I am thrilled to be His Child.  I am humbled at the lengths that Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ went through that I might be adopted.  I long to be obedient but I also know that I fail sometimes.  Yet He who called me friend, reaches out His nail scarred hands and tells me, it’s okay, I’ve taken that for you, repent and come back to the family. And I cry out thank you Abba Father.  Praise be to Your Holy Name.

Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father, we proclaim and affirm that there is only one begotten Son and that is Jesus Christ.  Yet with a Love too deep to truly fathom and a mystery to fantastic to completely grasp, You have chosen to adopt us as Your children.  We thank You for Your Mercy that would have Your Son Jesus Christ, come to earth, dwell with us, die for us and for our sins, that we might be able to come into relationship with You.  We boldly proclaim our belief in the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  And it is in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, that we pray this prayer of praise and thanksgiving.  Amen