Romans 8:18 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
My heart turned somersaults of joy as I watched our daughter and son-in-law raise their right hands and swear to become legal parents of the little guy who had been in their foster care for the past two years. God had answered their prayers. Their Gotcha Day had finally come. Both heaven and earth must have rejoiced as they answered we will to the judge’s questions.
I know “earth” did its part. We celebrated for the next three days! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends all traveled to be a part of the momentous occasion. Of course our new grandson had no idea as to why all the fuss. And as far as his new brother’s awareness? “We’re having junk food at the party!” he exclaimed. Clearly the high point for a four-year old. What could be better than hotdogs, hamburgers and cupcakes?
Someday the significance of what happened in the courthouse will dawn on them. But it makes me think about our adoption into the family of God. Are we just as oblivious?
Paul’s letter to the early Roman church explains our adoption as children of God. Before Christ, we lived under condemnation. We belonged to the Sin family, bound and marked by that surname. We were slaves to fear, without hope of rescue. But when God sent his son, everything changed. Jesus paid the debt we owed to our Sin family and opened the door to a new family, a new name, a new spirit…. the Holy Spirit.
I sometimes take that transaction for granted. Like my grandson, I’m busy enjoying the hamburgers and cupcakes and I forget the deeper significance. There is nothing more important than knowing the Holy Spirit lives in me. He empowers me to overcome temptation. He enables me to draw close to God. And he entrusts me with all the treasures of the Family business.
How about you? If you are a believer, you’ve been adopted as God’s child and your Abba, Father loves you more than you can imagine. Brother, sister, maybe it’s time to go ahead, and live like you’re all in the family.