Adopted!

I had a sad moment with Ruthie the other night.  We were eating dinner with some friends who are preparing to adopt their foster child.  I asked Ruthie to tell him what adoption means and she said, "It is where I live."  

What?! That's All?  Just where you live?  Clearly I have failed somewhere.  
A hundred thoughts went through my head in a few short minutes:
Have I not told you that you were chosen?
Do you not know how much you are loved?
Have you heard what we sacrificed to bring you into our family and how worth it you are?
Is it not clear that even though you were not born to me, I feel as though you are completely mine?
Did you miss the part where I love watching your life unfold and anticipating how you will change the world?
Adoption is not just where you live!  

Later that night we snuggled in bed and discussed what adoption really meant.  I said all of the things that I thought I had said before but that she clearly needed to hear again after a tumultuous summer.  I saw this peace wash over her as she reached out and grabbed my hand then fell asleep.

Last night I was back up at the hospital.  As I was falling asleep myself, I replayed my experience with Ruthie in my head and God said, "Now you see exactly how I feel!"
It was an aha moment.  
How many of us relate to God adopting us into his family as just a place to live? We see heaven as the goal and the end?  How many of us miss the relationship? the love? the sacrifice? the hope and future? the purpose for today?  

Ruthie wasn't ungrateful for a place to live and I don't think anyone is ungrateful for heaven, but there is soooooooooooo much more!  Let us grab hold of the life that adoption in Christ gives us and not just the residence it secures. 


In case you are not familiar with the notion that you were adopted by Christ:
“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15)

“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23)