ODJ: Love and Adoption

October 19, 2016 

READ: Ephesians 1:5-11 

God 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 (v.5).

A good friend recently returned to her native country, Argentina, following several years of living abroad. I attended her going-away party and entered into conversations with many of the other guests. In doing so, I noticed that some excused themselves from the table and headed to another room to care for a child or two.

When one woman put on a medical face mask and picked up a box of ointments and syringes, I began wondering what was going on. I soon learned that my friend’s church strives to tangibly live out Matthew 25:36, “I was sick, and you cared for me,” by adopting orphaned and abandoned children who have special needs.

I watched in awe as the adoptive parents of the precious boys and girls administered diabetes shots, assisted a young son in a wheelchair, adjusted a catheter that had slipped, and nourished a daughter through a feeding tube.

In an extraordinarily beautiful way, these parents were demonstrating the gift of adoption each of us is afforded through Jesus Christ, as presented by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:5-8.

Despite our brokenness, God “decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.” Why did God do this? Because “it gave him great pleasure” (v.5). Paul delivers more good news: “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (v.7).

Through adoption, God “has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding” (v.8). And for that and so many other reasons, “We praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son” (v.6).

—Roxanne Robbins

365-day plan: Acts 8:26-40

MORE
Read Matthew 18:5 and consider Jesus’ heart for needy children. 
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Why do you think God experiences pleasure by adopting us into His family? What does it mean to you to be adopted by your heavenly Father?