Sunday, March 30, 2014

Lenten Devotional – Fourth Sunday in Lent

Q. 34. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 Jn 3:1)

God’s decree is the very pillar and basis on which the saints’ perseverance depends. That decree ties the knot of adoption so fast, that neither sin, death, nor hell, can break it asunder. - Thomas Watson (c. 1557–1592)

  There is no limit on the number of children in the family of God. The apostle John says, "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1). Then he goes on to say something to the effect of, "Yet that is precisely what we are - children of God!" The astonishing thing is that God receives us - just as we are - and embraces us as family! But God's capacity to love and care for us is inexhaustible. The NIV uses the word "lavish" in its translation: "See what great love the Father has lavished upon us ...."  God's love is lavish love.

fourth_6420c  We may stumble, choose a path that is more crooked than straight and narrow, or at times be deeply disappointing to God. But when we search for God and call on God for forgiveness and new life, God's door is open. There's always a welcome waiting. Jesus emphasized this when he said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

  Even though the Bible uses the word “adopt” only about four times, it refers to the concept of adoption surprisingly often. And when it does, the Bible always presents adoption as a positive, gracious act that is part of God’s plan.

  Moses, for example, was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:1-10). His adoption, though sad for his Israelite parents, was part of God’s overall plan for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

  Esther was also an adoptee. We are told that when her parents died, Mordecai, her cousin, took her as his own daughter and adopted her (Esther 2:15). This adoption also led to a wonderful deliverance of the people of God!

  And in a way, wasn’t Jesus an adoptee? Joseph, who raised Jesus as his own, was not his biological father. Adopting parents can learn a great deal from Joseph! This man of God was truly unselfish; he was willing to rearrange his whole life in obedience to God. Joseph gladly accepted Jesus, providing him with all the love, encouragement and guidance that a son needs from a father.

  But the best and most important biblical adoption story of all is that there is only one way for us to enter the kingdom of God — we must become God’s adopted children through Jesus Christ. — Kay Green, “Does God believe in adoption?” Adoption.com, 2004.

  The divine sense of adoption is embodied in the metaphor when John tells us that Jesus came to arrange for our adoption as well. John uses that concept when, in the same verse in which he talked about people receiving Christ, he also says that to all who did so, Christ “gave power to become children of God.”

  Paul, too, uses the image of adoption repeatedly in his letters to the churches. To the Ephesians he writes: “[God] chose us in Christ ... He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ ...” (1:4-5). He tells the Romans that adoption leads believers to being “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

  In Paul’s day, being adopted included a release for the adoptee from any obligations attached while in the birth family. For example, any debts owed by the adoptee were canceled upon entrance into the adoptive family. Also, the adoptive father became, in every significant sense, the real father. The spiritual applications are obvious — the cancellation of sin’s penalty and becoming a real child of God, in line to receive a full portion of the Father’s kingdom.

  God wants to make us like Jesus. Just as, Jesus is the Son of God, God desires for us through adoption to become the sons and daughters of God. That is the clear message of chapter 3 from the First Letter of John: “Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) God intends to work in us, with us, and on us until we fully reflect the spirit and character of Jesus.

  In her autobiography, Gertrude Stein described an exchange she had with Pablo Picasso. Even though he had painted a portrait of her, he did not immediately recognize her. Stein wrote: "I murmured to Picasso that I liked his portrait of Gertrude Stein. Yes, he said, somebody said that she does not look like it, but that doesn't make any difference, she will." You and I are growing into the image of Jesus; and even though there are days when we do not seem to be very much like him, we will be one day. In the end, as Carroll Simcox beautifully put it, "You and I shall be our real, complete selves for the first time ever. We think of ourselves now as human beings. We really aren't that - not yet. We are human becomings. If you are living in Christ, believing in him and trying to follow and obey him as the master of your life, you are by his grace, becoming ever more and more like him."

Today’s Lectionary Readings
Morning Psalm: 51
Evening Psalm: 139
Jeremiah 14:1-16
Galatians 4:21—5:1
Mark 8:11-21

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