Adopted children of God
by Norma Koehne
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You have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:15b,16).
A theme is developing this week about how God in his love and mercy makes us his children. Today the picture that is used is that of adoption. As the mother of two adopted children, I know the difficult process one goes through to be assessed and granted the legal approval of the court. Many people are involved. Lately, it has become difficult to adopt children, with foster care seeming to be the preferred option. I have read a number of times that there are children who long to have a ‘forever family’. That phrase has stuck in my mind.
Through baptism, we have become sons and daughters in God’s forever family through adoption. As children, we can talk to our Father God in the tenderest of terms, calling him ‘Daddy’, as a young child would talk to their father. If you have children, remember how special it was the day your child first called you ‘Dada’ or ‘Mama’. God rejoices every time we pray to him as our loving Father.
As children of God, we read God’s word and are strengthened, forgiven and renewed as we partake in Christ’s body and blood in the sacrament. We have no fear that God will abandon us or turn away from us. He is always there to take us by the hand or enfold us in his loving arms.
As children of God, we are his heirs, receiving the inheritance of eternal life in perfect love, peace and joy in heaven. What an amazing future we have to look forward to. Maybe right now, you are suffering from one of the many trials that we have in this imperfect life. But as brothers and sisters of Christ, we are privileged to share, however slightly, in his sufferings. And we have the promise that we will share in his glory.
Loving Father, what a privilege I have that I am part of your forever family. May I always treasure being your child and heir through adoption into this wonderful family. Amen.
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