For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
–Romans 8:15
Adoption is obviously a big part of our life. Our upcoming adoption of Ethan and Haddon has me thinking about some of the implications of the event. One of the fun things is the court hearing. It’s somewhat ceremonial. We have already been certified and the boys have already been severed from their biological families. There is a very cool part of the court hearing. The judge goes through all the paperwork and asks a couple of questions and then makes his statement that is entered into the record and concludes it with the phrase “as if born unto you.” With that the hearing is concluded and it’s time to take pictures. I’ve attached a picture from Paige’s hearing. It was a wonderful moment.
At the Festival we all get to be a part of a huge adoption ceremony. I have no doubt that God, the Righteous Judge, will pronounce that many, based on Christ’s finished work, are now sons and daughters. It will be as though He pronounces that they are His children “as if born unto Him.” It’s a wonderful thing that God is not only the Righteous Judge but also the loving Daddy. There are three great implications of God’s adoption that are worth contemplating.
1. We now have a Daddy that loves us greatly and who has promised to protect and provide for us for now and all time.
2. We have an older brother in Jesus that not only bore our sin that we might live but also serves as the example for us to follow. In following in His footsteps we can truly live as God intended us to live.
3. We now have many brothers and sisters across all cultures and eras. Like all big families there are lots of crazy aunts and uncles but isn’t it great that all the barriers that divide people are broken down by being a part of God’s family.
I look forward to and am honored that I get to be a part of God’s adoption ceremony at Tempe Town Lake on March 19-20. Even more so that I get to share it with such talented team made up of my brothers and sisters.
