Articles
The Gift of Adoption
The story was told of a young girl who was being adopted from another country. Initially she was excited to have a new home, new parents, and a new life.
Anyone in her shoes would be. In the orphanage in which she was living, she was allowed to have one shower a week. Breakfast each morning was one piece of bread. If they had fruit, it was rotten. Life was difficult. It was hard.
But as the day of her adoption neared, she began to rethink her new life. She had friends who told her how horrible life would be outside of the orphanage. One person told her the new country she was moving to would give her a bad life. She was scared. As the court date neared, she wanted to back out.
That’s not an uncommon story. In fact, that’s a common story that is witnessed spiritually often.
God wants to spiritually adopt the world. Paul wrote:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ . . . In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us . . . “ (Ephesians 1:3–8).
It was always God’s plan to adopt you as a child through Jesus Christ. But like the young girl, you have to willingly submit to the plan. You must be willing to be adopted.
In the parable of the soils, Jesus warned that some would receive the word and not last. Notice what He said:
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13:20–21).
Those described as rocky ground receive the word but at the first sign of difficulty, they fall away. They are like the girl who doesn’t want to follow through with her adoption.
There is no doubt friends often play a role in this discouragement. Peter talked about friends who would attempt to malign the one who is changing their behavior (1 Peter 4:3–4). Anyone who considers becoming a disciple will have friends who attempt to discourage them. It’s one of Satan’s most successful fiery darts.
If you have seen people away from God’s adoption, perhaps a little more understanding is in order. Change is scary—even when the change is a tremendous improvement in life. The unknown is terrifying even when it is undoubtedly better. It may be that you are the friend who can encourage them to be adopted.
And, if you’re thinking about allowing God to adopt you, don’t listen to the fears. Adoption is a beautiful gift—especially when the new father is perfect in every way.
