Tag: family

𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱!  I love that.  With brothers and sisters of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and cultures across the world.  If ever there were a movement that I would want to be a part of, this is the one!  To be adopted into the family of Jesus Christ.  How fantastic!

Being born into a family and being adopted into a family are two very different things.  You don’t choose the family you are born into, and they don’t choose you, but when you are adopted into the family of God, the Father chooses you to become a part of this wonderful inheritance, this glorious legacy, this amazing family!  There is one incredible similarity to being born into a family; everything that was available to Jesus is also available to you.  You have access to the Father at any time.  You are an heir of the Father and a joint heir with Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:5a tells us this, “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself.”  You are adopted as a son or a daughter, NOT as a servant!

This is how the dictionary defines adopted: “𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵.”  You are legally the daughter of the Most High God.  When you are adopted into the family of the King of the Ages, you enter into a covenant with Him.  A legally binding covenant, one that our Abba Father will never break.  When you enter into that covenant, you will always be a part of God’s family, you will always be His, and He will always be your Father.

I absolutely agree with this quote from J I Packer, “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.”  The God of the Universe is your Father, you are His child – that is the very essence of your being.  Our identity is wrapped up in the knowledge, the heartfelt knowledge that God is our Father.  You are legally bound to Him, eternally chosen, placed in His family for all of eternity.  A daughter of the King!

Reflections:

1. In what ways does knowing that you are legally adopted by God, not merely tolerated, shape the way you see your worth and identity today?  Are there areas in your life where you still think or live like a servant instead of a much-loved daughter?

• What are the ways you approach God as though He is a distant authority rather than a loving Father?  Would there be changes in your prayer life or the way you trust Him if you fully embraced Him as your Abba, your faithful, covenant-keeping Father?

• Does being a part of God’s global family shape the way you look at or love other believers? 

Step-By-Step

Today, intentionally pray using the word Father, Daddy, or Abba, taking a moment to thank Him for adopting you into His family, making you a daughter of The King.  Find a sticky note and write down one truth about your identity as God’s daughter and declare it over yourself every day, a reminder that you are adopted, chosen, fully loved and fully known.