Friday, December 1, 2023
When I was twelve years old, my parents, who already had their hands full raising my three younger brothers and I, decided to expand the family by adopting a sweet baby girl. Eleven years later, I could not possibly imagine our family any other way— my sister has brought so much joy to our family.
Adoption is not something every family is called to, but it is something many Christian families have done throughout Church history. God even used the term adoption for our relationship with him as Paul shares in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:4-5
4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
God loved us so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice made us right with God once again and paved the way for us to be adopted into God’s eternal family.
In the Old Testament part of the Bible (before Jesus came to earth), being one of God’s people was a limited offer. God specifically chose the Israelites as his special people—the family he chose to show himself to the world through. There was the occasional Gentile (non-Israelite) who became a part of God’s people in this time too (see: Rahab, Ruth, etc.), but the Israelites made up the majority of the population of God’s chosen people.
However, in the New Testament, Jesus came, in part, to expand this family. Through his death and resurrection, he made a way for all to become “children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
God desires to bring each person into his family. No matter what you look like. No matter where you’re from. No matter what you’ve done. No matter how far from him you might feel right now. He wants to adopt you as a true son or daughter. He wants to be your heavenly Father.
All people are invited to become God’s people, through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Today, if you haven’t yet, I encourage you: Take the step of faith in Jesus and join God’s eternal family. For all who have taken that step today or recently:
Welcome to the Family!
Questions:
How does it feel to know that all people are invited to be a part of God’s people?
Who in your life do you need to invite to be a part of God’s family?
Next Steps:
Step 1: Read Galatians 3:26-29.
Step 2: Reflect and/or journal on what it means to be a part of God’s family.
Step 3: Try to think of (and then look up) verses that describe the characteristics of God’s people (how we should act and treat one another). If you need a place to start, check out John 13:34-35 and Philippians 1:1-18.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for making a way for me to be a part of your family. Your love and your grace is amazing, and so much more than I could ever deserve! Help me to love others like you have loved me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
This post was written by David Hammack, Jr., a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.