Ephesians 1:4 – 6 ” . . . In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
Yesterday was our son’s “Adoption Day” party. He has been ours since birth, but it took about fourteen months for all of the paperwork to be final. On that day, we went to the courthouse, and with him in our arms and his sister standing between us, we took a solemn oath. We signed legal, contractual papers stating that we wanted him as our son and that we would not change our minds or ever give him back. On that day, he became our child. It’s a done deal, signed, sealed and delivered.
But our relationship with our son is so much more than a contract! We wanted him desperately. We chose him for our very own. And we love him with a love that surpasses any possible description.
In the last chapter of my book, Filling Up My Lap, I used this very passage of scripture. I wrote:
“The God of the universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Great Creator had only one biological child. He certainly could have created for Himself a large biological family. But instead, He chose us. He demonstrated the greatest love of all by using His own biological child to bring about the adoption of anyone who would seek Him as their Father. God demonstrated that adoption is not something to be seen as a last chance, or second best. Rather, adoption is something to be acquired at great cost. John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die for us, so that whoever believed in Him would spend eternity with Him in heaven. Romans 5:8 tells us that God demonstrated His great love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. To God, our adoption was worthy of the ultimate sacrifice.”
Friends, God wants you. He wants you. God wants you so much that He figured out a way, before time began, to make you His own. And just as most adoptive families pay a great amount of money in order to adopt, God paid the ultimate price for you.
Friends, we didn’t deserve such love from God.
We could never, ever earn our ways into His affection.
But He chose us. He paid the price it took to make us His own.
And we can be sure, once the contract is signed, once we accept His invitation to join His family, He will never, ever, ever give us back.
It’s a done deal.
Dear Father, Thank You for adopting me into Your family and making me Your child. Thank you for wanting me and loving me that much.
Amen
Yes, He has paid a great price for us, the depth of which we will never be able to fathom.
And in return, how can we fail to offer our own lives, our everything, to Him?
On this Valentine’s Day, I reaffirm my love for this Lover of My Soul who went to the cross for me.
Oh, that I will have an eternity to express my love for Him.
Jlo