Adoption: December 16, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 2013,

ADOPTION

DEFINITION:

Take or receive as one’s own, such as a child; to take another’s child into one’s own family.

SCRIPTURE:

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5.

To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:5.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Here in America most people know of families that have adopted a child. For some parents it is because they are unable to have a child and for others it is their desire to help raise a hurting child.

In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. For example, Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar. Other notable adoptees included the emperors Tiberius and Hadrian. All of these mentioned proved to be strong rulers because each one was raised and trained to live like a child of his adoptive father. Under Roman law adopted children had all the rights and privileges of a biological child. An adopted child received his father’s inheritance.

Every Christian, one who has accepted Jesus as his or her Savior, is an adopted child of the King of Kings. Our adoption comes at a great cost. God made it possible to be brought into His family through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. Our adoption is completed when we asked Him for forgiveness for our sins and accept Him as our Savior. Romans 8:17 tells us that God has made us not only adopted children but joint heirs with Christ. What a privilege and what a blessing.

We should feel great indebtedness to God for all that He has done for us. There is no way to repay Him in for the cost He paid to adopt us into His family. The adopted Roman child gained not only the rights of a legitimate child in his new family but also the responsibilities. He was expected to study and train to be a worthy member of the family. God wants us to live in a way that a child of God is expected to live, honoring our heavenly Father. Our instruction and training is given to us in God’s Word.

In Colossians 3:5 we are told by the apostle Paul what we are to get rid of in our lives when we have been adopted by God. He tells us to, “Put to death the sinful ways of our old life; sexual immorality; impurity; lust; evil desires; greed and idolatry.” We are children of God and we should act like it.

Our old way of life is to be replaced by activities and desires that show that we belong to the family of God. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:12 that we are to “Put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering.” These are the characteristics of Jesus. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” John 10:30. Jesus did the will of the Father. As adopted children how could we desire to do anything but do the will of our Father?

In Romans 8:15 Paul tells the people in the church at Rome, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” We need to be led daily by the Spirit of God in order to do the will of God our Father and to become more like Christ.

God is waiting to adopt all that do not know Him as their Savior. All you have to do is recognize that you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness and then ask Him to come into your heart. He will then adopt you as one of His children. John 1:12 reads, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 15:4.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

PRAYER:

Thank You that You have adopted me as one of Your children. Give me the strength and determination to live for You every moment of this day. May all that I meet know that by my words and deeds that I am an adopted son of God.