The Greatest GiftsSample

The Gift of Being Adopted as His Children

If you do a Google search on the word “adopted,” you’ll find heartfelt story after story of a child being adopted and given a new life when the birth parent(s) could only provide much less. There are countless examples of the famous and obscure enjoying a fresh life thanks to adoption and being chosen.

God is the ultimate adoptive parent. He has given us the choice of whether we want to be adopted by Him through His Son. Being the omnipotent God that He is, He knows what our choice will be while urging us to become His child. The next gift? Adoption.

“In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5, NIV).

Some get hung up on the word “predestined.” Some would suggest that if God has predestined whether I go to heaven, I don’t need to get caught up in His decision. I can act as I want. Since it is mentioned in several other places in the Bible that God wants everyone to be saved, then I’ve been predestined to go to heaven. It doesn’t matter how I act, right? No, that’s not right.

Predestination means God has the plan -- and it’s a good and great plan -- but we choose whether we will follow it. When we choose God, we receive the inheritance, like sons and daughters. God’s plan for us is clear:

‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’ (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

So, why wouldn’t we accept God’s plan for us? It’s a great plan. It’s a wonderful gift!

John Calvin, one of the early Christian faith leaders in the 1500s, wrote and preached much on predestination. He suggested that no one can live a Godly life without the Holy Spirit in him, without God calling that person to be a believer.

Why would a person want to be God’s son or daughter? Romans 8 says God’s love for each person is so immense that nothing can contain God’s love for us. Calvin wrote:

“When we have our adoption engraved in our hearts, then … we have a good and infallible pledge that God will guide us unto the end, and that since he has begun to lead us into the way of salvation, he will bring us to the perfection to which he calls us, because, in truth, without him we could not continue so much as a single day.”

God has called us. God has elected us.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of ... the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NASB).

God has predestined us to follow Him, embrace the great things He has for us, and love Him. I am thankful for that gift because, with it, He is the One who guides us through this life on our path to spending all of eternity with Him. He guides. We choose.

So the second gift is the gift of adoption. Adoption, as being called God’s son or daughter, and all the love that goes with it!

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for this gift of adoption, of being Your child. I joyfully choose to be your child and receive all the love you give me as my unfailing heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.