July 03
Adoption
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV)
Fear not ... you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
I love Mark Hoeffner’s favorite adoption story. He’s got several. You see, Mark thought he and his wife were done after adopting four special-needs kids, but then there was Loretta, a young girl in Mrs. Hoeffner’s third-grade class. Loretta had been in eight foster homes and been through four failed adoptions. The last to a lesbian couple who didn’t endure. Mark’s wife thought, “Enough of this!”
So arrangement’s were made and in time, the Hoeffner’s found themselves in court expecting the usual, quick, no frills process. But then, a surprising thing happened. People started streaming into the empty courtroom. One after another they came, quietly, until they filled the room. What was going on? Mark and his wife looked to the judge.
He smiled at them and said something like, “You’re wondering who all these people are, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes....
“Mr. Hoeffner, I invite the court staff in every time we have an adoption. I’m afraid this is the only positive thing that goes on here, and I don't want them to miss it.”
What wisdom. The judge then asked Loretta some interesting questions. “My question to you today is this: Do you want them to be your parents?”
“Well....”
“Understand, once you become family, you believe what they believe. You’ll be one of them. Do you truly choose them to be your parents?”
“Yes.”
Mark said that judge catapulted their family's understanding of their special relationship light-years ahead. It can be true of us too. We can gain a similar knowledge of our spiritual family, for God our Father has spelled out our adoption. He’s defined it for us and clued us in to all the benefits that go with being a part of His wonderful family. Read Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 sometime and see what he has done for us in regard to His priceless gifts of identity, inheritance and everlasting love.
This adoption is the sweetest thing. Let’s understand it, embrace it and ... live it. For Him ... always for Him.
Abba, Father, oh the sweet blessings You give. Oh, how I love You. May You smile at Your children this day. This day ... and every day. Amen.
Adoption
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV)
Fear not ... you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
I love Mark Hoeffner’s favorite adoption story. He’s got several. You see, Mark thought he and his wife were done after adopting four special-needs kids, but then there was Loretta, a young girl in Mrs. Hoeffner’s third-grade class. Loretta had been in eight foster homes and been through four failed adoptions. The last to a lesbian couple who didn’t endure. Mark’s wife thought, “Enough of this!”
So arrangement’s were made and in time, the Hoeffner’s found themselves in court expecting the usual, quick, no frills process. But then, a surprising thing happened. People started streaming into the empty courtroom. One after another they came, quietly, until they filled the room. What was going on? Mark and his wife looked to the judge.
He smiled at them and said something like, “You’re wondering who all these people are, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes....
“Mr. Hoeffner, I invite the court staff in every time we have an adoption. I’m afraid this is the only positive thing that goes on here, and I don't want them to miss it.”
What wisdom. The judge then asked Loretta some interesting questions. “My question to you today is this: Do you want them to be your parents?”
“Well....”
“Understand, once you become family, you believe what they believe. You’ll be one of them. Do you truly choose them to be your parents?”
“Yes.”
Mark said that judge catapulted their family's understanding of their special relationship light-years ahead. It can be true of us too. We can gain a similar knowledge of our spiritual family, for God our Father has spelled out our adoption. He’s defined it for us and clued us in to all the benefits that go with being a part of His wonderful family. Read Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 sometime and see what he has done for us in regard to His priceless gifts of identity, inheritance and everlasting love.
This adoption is the sweetest thing. Let’s understand it, embrace it and ... live it. For Him ... always for Him.
Abba, Father, oh the sweet blessings You give. Oh, how I love You. May You smile at Your children this day. This day ... and every day. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 2:11 PM
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