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Adopted into God's family

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Romans 8:15-17

Before we ever considered adoption, Romans 8:15-17 was one of our favorite passages. Now that we have adopted, these verses have an even more deep and powerful meaning.

We began our journey as foster parents, and through a series of circumstances, we eventually felt led to adoption as well. Through that process we adopted two 2-year-olds within a year, Niki and James. This experience has taught us so much about our children and ourselves, and, most importantly, has taught us more about God.

First, adoption is a choice. No one makes us open our hearts and bring children into our families. In our case, we could have continued fostering and no one would have thought any less of us. But we chose to take the next step.

God is much the same way. He is God and owes us nothing, but he chose to sacrifice his Son and adopt us into his family. What an amazing, loving God we serve.

Second, adoption is permanent. This wasn’t something new to us, but something we now better understand. Niki and James are ours and nothing could ever make us give them back.

This is the case even more so with God. When he adopts us into his family, this is a permanent action. While I can’t fathom it, nothing we do can cause God to kick us out of his family. Again, what an amazing, loving God we serve.

Finally, there is no difference between how God loves us and how God loves his Son. Verse 17 says we are heirs with Christ. I cannot even begin to fathom what all this means, but the mere idea that God doesn’t rank his children blows my mind. He loves us all the same.

This past February our biological daughter was born. While some of the emotions in this situation are unique, we do not love her any more than we do James and Niki. She does not receive more inheritance or special treatment just because she is our biological child. All our children are our children, members of our family whom we love.

God sees us the same way. The fact that we are chosen and adopted does not make us any less loved. In fact, in some sense we may be loved even more.

Let this sit with you today. You are chosen. You are adopted into the family of God. You are an heir with Christ. You are loved. And that love will never end.

Buck and Stephanie are foster and adoptive parents. They live in Mesquite, Texas, and have been blessed to adopt two children, Niki and James, and have a biological daughter, Selah.

Prayer of the Week:
-God, thank you for choosing us and loving us no matter what we have done in the past or how many mistakes we'll make in the future. Teach us to love others like you have loved us.

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