Adoption!

In our world today the legal and political world argues over what constitutes the basic unit of society known as family. Rules, legislative efforts, or movements do not necessarily define family. I attended a recent family reunion made up of people from 92 years to 5 months of age -- all such different people! We joked about the individual differences secured by original "reunion family members" or their spouses -- "blood or marriage". At the end of the reunion a family member reminded me of a special adoption included in our reunion group.

Adoption is the deliberate legal act by which a family gives a person all the privileges of being a member of that family. We have watched with loving interest and awe as friends have chosen to adopt three children (2 brothers and one sister) from Romania. These three children, scarred physically, emotionally and socially, have come through the infamous orphanage and foster home system of Romania. The bureaucracy and capricious nature of the Romanian adoption system has drained our friends financially and emotionally. But their generously given time and resources, along with their relentless love impresses us all.

"How we become a family" has spiritual implications as well. Biblical references abound relating to:

• God as our Father (Matthew 6:9),
• other believers as children and heirs of God (Romans 8:14-17)
• the church as the household of God (Ephesians 2:19 -20).

Amazingly, God offers to all followers of Jesus the status, privileges and responsibilities of being His children through adoption. The price has been paid and the offer made but the choice is ours, whether to believe in Jesus and become adopted into His family.

I doubt that our heavenly "family reunion" will be filled with much discussion of blood relationship, marriage, or our own merits. Instead, we will be keenly aware that we have all come the same way -- through adoption.

Let us celebrate our spiritual family this week as we love and reminisce together as brothers and sisters of the King.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will but born of God" (John 1:12-13 NIV)

Sharing the journey with you,