“Because you did not receive the spirit of slavery to live again in fear, but you received the Spirit who made you children of God and through whom we turn to God: ‘Abba, Father!’ (Rom., ch. 8, verse 15*).
As part of a biblical lesson in Sunday school, I handed out a folded piece of paper to each child, each with a word written inside. The words described how the Lord views each of them, such as: loved, redeemed, forgiven, precious. When they read the word aloud, they smiled and sometimes laughed. But the child who received "adopted" was disappointed.
- Why did you give me this word? – he asked me. – I prefer one of the others.
For him, adoption was associated with something negative. But I thought it was the best word since it encompassed all the others.
Adoption is a conscious choice to accept someone into your family. It creates a new relationship that provides the adopted child with all the rights and privileges that the biological child has. As believers in Christ, we are adopted into God's family. The Lord is our parent who protects, loves, forgives, and accepts us. We already bear the family name and one day will live forever in His home.
From God's perspective, adoption means that we are chosen, accepted, valued, and loved unconditionally.
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2016-09-01
* Biblical quotes are from Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013