Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5
Two boys, brothers, came to live in our community when they were in their early teen years. Their parents were gone; we never heard what happened to them, but the boys needed someone to take care of them. The provincial agency in charge of such cases placed the older brother with a couple in our neighbourhood. He was well cared for, and treated with respect. But when he reached an age when the agency ceased its support payments for him, the lad was sent away to support himself. Because he had no family support system, life became a challenge until he was able to earn a living for himself. His brother, on the other hand, was placed with a well-to-do woman in the community. This lady took a great fancy to the boy, and decided to adopt him. She was able to provide him with the best of everything, and he was able to attend the universities of his choice. Life for him was much better than that of his brother. He was like Christians, who have been adopted by our Heavenly Father.
The first chapter of Ephesians describes the spiritual blessings that God gives to His children. And today’s text identifies the second of these blessings, the blessing of adoption. As sinners, we were born into the wrong family and until we were saved we were outside the blessings of God. We had no claim or right to anything that God might provide. But our salvation brought us into a new relationship with God. Just as an adopted child is brought into all of the rights and privileges of the family that adopts him, so we have been brought into all of the rights and privileges that pertain to God’s family. Not only is it a full and complete status as a family member, but it is an irrevocable status that we cannot lose and that God cannot annul. Adoptions of this world are legal proceedings that involve paperwork and official declarations. But adoptions into God’s family require a new birth. And that new birth is not of our doing but is a work of God.
Our adoption into God’s family gives us rights to perpetual access our Heavenly Father. People who belong to the many different religions of the world rarely have any access to the leaders of their religions. But Christians are always able to contact our Heavenly Father; He is always as near as our prayers. In fact, He desires that we maintain a close contact with Him at all times. This is truly amazing when we think about it, that the God of Heaven and of Eternity is always available and pleased to listen to His children. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence and guides us into truth and obedience. The Word of God becomes rich food for our souls, to help us grow in spiritual things. All because we have been adopted into God’s family.
What a precious spiritual blessing, to be adopted into God’s family! How much do we appreciate this? -Jim MacIntosh