Because of my past, I love the word and act of spiritual adoption. Paul mentioned adoption five times. “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal.4:5). Adoption: the act of legally taking a chosen child who does not belong to your family and permanently accepting the child as your own child into your family. (americanadoptions.com). When potential parents look for a child to adopt, they are very particular. They slowly pick the best or the pick of the litter. They look for a good-looking and good-natured child. The orphans are thinking, “Pick me, pick me.” They finally pick a chosen preferred one and reject the others. The remaining ones were the unchosen and unwanted ones.
One girl asked another, “Which is your favorite doll?” She showed her an ugly torn doll. She asked, “Why do you love that ugly doll?” The girl said, “Because if I did not, no one else would.” I am thankful that God unconditionally loves those who are unlovable, overlooked, outcast, and unwanted. The Lord loves you because of who are, not what you are. He loves you, you, and even you! When teams are chosen, everyone wants to be chosen. Many yell, “Pick me, pick me!”
In my senior years, no one picked me. I walked away very disappointed. I never played volleyball again, but I still play golf. I am so thankful the Lord did not reject me. He picked me! Selah! Spiritual adoption is a one-time permanent act of God that changes your family status forever. The adopted child does not choose parents, but parents choose the child. The child then has the right to receive or reject the parents. You do not choose the Lord, but He chooses you (John 15:16). Then you have the right or free-will to receive or reject the Lord as your Heavenly Father. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
The Lord picked you and once you choose to believe and receive Him, you are placed into your new family of God (2 Cor. 5:17). Good News! Once you are adopted, you cannot be unadopted (John 10:28). You will never be forsaken – Never! (Heb. 13:5). The Lord is now your Heavenly Father and you are now His child. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…Beloved, now are we the sons (in the family) of God” (1 Jn. 3:1-2). Have you been spiritually adopted? If not, yell, “Pick me. Pick me” and the Lord will adopt you into the family of God. Once two girls became mad. One said in anger, “Did you know you were adopted?” Later, they met again and the adopted girl said, “Your parents did not have any choice about you, but my parents picked me on purpose.” As a child of God, you can also say, “The Lord picked me on purpose!”
Thought: The world conforms us – The Word transforms us (Rom. 12:1-2) – TC
