Adoption is a reflection of the love story written by the Lord God. He sought us- One- THE One and only God of creation sought me, loved me, and took me in to be called an heir to the throne, a daughter to the King of Kings! "One Sought Me"
"We love because He first loved us!" 1 John 4:19
Adoption means acceptance and love. Pure love's example is seen through God. God is love.
Love is giving; it's selfless, it takes risks, and many times, it takes us on a road less traveled and doesn't make much logical sense.
Look of God's example of Love. He loved us so much that He:
1. Created us (giving) He gave us life. He thought of us and imagined us. He formed the first man from dust and woman from the rib of man and placed them in the garden. God formed you and me too. Why? So He could fellowship with man. So He could delight in His creation and for His creation to delight in Him.
Isaiah 44: 24 "This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb. "I am the Lord who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself."
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it."
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Psalm 139: 13 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
2. Loved us (selfless) God loved us enough to give us an intelligent mind capable of making own our decisions. True love isn't love that is programmed to love with no choice in the matter. God wanted us to love Him by our choice or 'free will.' Sadly, this free will in Adam and Eve didn't choose God's perfect route but chose another that all mankind would reap the consequences, it's called sin. Never fear, God was prepared for this.
Joshua 24:15 "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3. Sought us. Throughout history man continued to turn from God and follow mans own ways. God decided to begin again with the flood of Noah, but again man rejected God's ways. God made rules and laws for man (see the Old Testament), but man would fail again not being able to measure up. God was hoping man would realize their shortcomings and their need for God's strength and help through life. God has always been seeking us, hoping we will chose His love and turn to Him. This is His desire for all people no matter what our life's shortcomings and past. He still wants us to come to Him- He loves that much that He will take care of it. And He did when He...(to number 4)
John 3:19 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."
Ephesians 2: 1-10 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
4. Provided for us (takes risks) God sent His son, Jesus, from a comfortable place in Heaven where there was honor, respect, and knee bowing worship, down to a earth that was (and is) in such a sinful state that He was (and is) the only solution for the rescue of men and their sin entrapment. So where is the risk? Some of God's creation, people whom He loves so deeply, still may not choose to be rescued. They may not choose Jesus. The risk? Rejection again and losing a son or daughter.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life.17.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
5. Took the road less traveled (not logical) Jesus was sent as a human, a helpless, dependent infant born in a feeding trough for barn animals. He was a king and he took the lowest, most humble position on earth. That's not normal, that doesn't make much logical sense for a king to do, and it sure was out of a comfort zone coming from the glitz of Heaven. Jesus lived his life humbly traveling and teaching others about the love of God the father, not seeking an earthly throne or favor. Jesus was the messenger in human form. He was the example of a spirit led and God following life. Ultimately, he obeyed the father's plan fulfilling God's promise of a savior and took upon himself the sins of all man past and present by his death on the cross. This death was a sacrifice for all sin and man's sin's nature to no longer bind them to this but to free them by the father's love to one day join God in heaven eternally in fellowship with Him.
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have see His glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 13:16 (Jesus speaking to his disciples while washing their feet)"I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."
Jesus was not serving for:
1. a response, 2. recognition, 3. a reward, 4. out of guilt.
He served out of pure love and obedience to the Father.
This is what Love is. It's called the gospel, or the good news! Love doing, faith in action, trust and sacrifice, all for one purpose and that is to better His kingdom and bring Glory to His name! The God we serve is an awesome God and we feel that He wants to use us to do amazing things through His strength. He calls us to step out of the comfort zone, even when there are risks involved, and to trust Him to see His plan through.
Adoption is an earthly example of God's amazing love. Adoption is seeking to love the lost, taking risks, and walking on that road less traveled to reach out to these children in love. Not for a response, not for recognition from man, not for a reward, and not out of guilt. But out of an over-flowing love of the Father's that we as people will desire to give such love to others in His name.
Remembering too that it's not only the children's earthly life that will benefit from the love, hope, health, education, etc. but more importantly their placement of eternity is at stake. How are they to know the love of Jesus in a spiritual sense if they have never seen or received love in a earthly way?
One sought me when I was lost, so I will seek the lost. He loved me, so I will love.
Check it out for yourself in His Holy word, the bible. Want to know more about your personal relationship with Christ? Click here to Focus on the Family Ministries.
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