12/8/2015   

Romans 8:23-25   “23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Twice now Paul has talked about our adoption.  It is a concept we need to understand.   I have known several couples who have adopted a child.   Of all of those families, there is not a single one who stumbled across an orphaned child out in the mall parking lot asking to be adopted.  None begrudgingly took a child in with the intention of abandoning them the moment the child stepped out of line.  In each case, the adoptive parents actively sought out a child to bring into their home.

The process often came a great cost in both time and financial resources.  It was not undertaken because the couples wanted to grow their family portfolio, or because they heard about a well behaved kid who wouldn’t be too difficult to manage.  Instead they sought out a child to love, to welcome into their home as their own, to invest their lives into, to bestow their blessings, and to give the child a home and a family.

The greatest lie you will ever be told is that God begrudgingly let you into heaven, and simply tolerates your presence.  Your adoption has come at a great price, not so that you can be a slave, but so that you can be a son or daughter.  Remember that you are loved by one who wasn’t willing to leave you as you were, but who sought you out and paid for your redemption.