Adoption is a free act of God's grace, in which we are received into the family, and have a right to all the privileges of the children of God.
How great the love of the Father is given unto us that we should be called the children of God. (1 John 3:1)
In love He predestined us to be adopted. (Eph. 1:5)
Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles themselves as a child is the greatest in the kingdom of God. (Mt. 18:3,4)
Thoughts: We must humble ourselves like children in order to be made children of the heavenly Father. The great news is that God loves us- and desires that we call Him "father." Jesus says to pray, "Our Father who art in heaven." God wants us to know Him as father. There are many who have fathers genetically but not relationally- they do not know their own fathers- perhaps because the father has distanced himself- or failures have separated them. But God calls us back to Himself- though we are enemies of Him (Rom. 9:5). He not only calls us- but welcomes us- as the father welcomed the prodigal son. God adopts us into His family when we have faith. In a sense God is the father of all people- having made all people. He pours His rain and sun on the just and the unjust. He expects us to treat all humans with respect, grace and love as our neighbor made in His image. Yet many disown Him as Father. In fact, we all do. But God welcomes us back not only because He made us, but because He died for us to reconcile us to God. In love He calls us to be a part of the family of love.
Prayer: Father, may I not take your love for granted, but respond to it in gratitude.
No comments:
Post a Comment