Adopted!

I browsed through the internet to find a perfect definition for the word “Adoption” – something simple, yet meaningful, that I could use in this post. I came up with several definitions and it blew my mind just thinking of how profound the word is. Here are a just a few statements I found from Wikipedia, Merriam-Webster Dictionary & dictionary.reference.com.

• To choose or take as one’s own.
• Make one’s own by selection.
• To take by choice into a relationship.
• The act of accepting with approval.
• Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status.

With these statements in mind, would you read the following verse with me…

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:5)

I came across this verse during my daily Bible Study of the book of Ephesians with Good Morning Girls. When I think of God adopting me as His child, my heart is overwhelmed… with praise… with gratitude… and with joy!

God Almighty chose me… He selected me… handpicked me… But I wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment choice! He predestined me for adoption – He had already planned on adopting me! WOW!

He brought me into a relationship with Him. He accepted me with all my flaws. He chose me to be His own.

My purpose for this post is twofold:

#1 If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, I urge you to go to Him today. Accepting that I was a sinner and believing that Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins was without doubt the best decision I have ever made. I am free now, no longer encumbered with my past because He has blotted it out with His blood. God wants to adopt you as His own. TRY JESUS TODAY! You won’t regret it :).

#2 If you do have a relationship with Jesus, would you take a deeper look at it? As I mentioned earlier, “Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status”. Are we truly living our lives as children of a holy God? In everything we do, say or think – do we bring glory to our Father?

I read the verse 3 days back, but the question lingers in my mind. And I am going to let it haunt me everyday. In everything I do, say or think, do I bring glory to the one who adopted me? I pray I will.