Day: August 2, 2013

Has anyone ever felt that adopted children were not quite the same as children born by birth? Well, I can tell you for me and many others that is adamantly not true. Both of my sons were adopted. My oldest was 3 days old and my youngest was 22 months old. My sons were totally and completely mine from first sight! And I would defy anyone to say otherwise.

So, it was confusing when we went to court for their final adoption hearing and the judge said, “Now you know that these children will be heirs to anything you have at your death. They are now and forevermore considered the same as natural born sons.” Well, of course they were! It hadn’t even occurred to me otherwise. And it hurt me to hear these words that made it seem as though they were not equal in every way. How could he say such a thing?

Paul is telling us in these verses that when we become followers of Jesus and accept Christ, we become as natural sons and daughters of God. Not second best, not “almost equal”, but true, full children of God. We come to God now as full heirs and God sees us in the same light as Jesus. We can come to God calling “Abba, Father” which is the equivalent of calling “Daddy”. We have the right to call the God of the universe by the name used by favored and adored children!

Prayer for the day: Lord, it is hard to imagine that I am truly a child of yours. Thank you for bringing me into your family. Amen.