See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 (NASB)
Series Focus: “Through His Eyes”
I am one of seven children in my family. Four of the seven were adopted. My parents also provided foster care to many beautiful children throughout my childhood. Our household was a safe-place and one of the “kool-aid” houses for our neighborhood. It wasn’t uncommon to have nine to fourteen children playing in our home any given weekend. I honestly don’t know how my parents did it!
Being raised in such a large and diverse household, there were times I thought I was the misfit—the unwanted. As much as my adopted siblings and the foster children needed to know they were wanted, loved, and chosen, I needed that reinforcement, as well. In my youthful, self-centered immaturity, I thought I must not have been good enough or what my parents’ wanted. …That was so far from the truth.
My parents, knowing the Father’s love for them, had a heart to provide a home and an expression of His love to as many children as possible. Every child deserves safety, provision, guidance, and love. I can’t speak for my parents’ faith, convictions, and choices, but I can reflect as a recipient of their gentle generosity and as a witness of their sacrifices. Through my parents and the truths I’ve learned in scripture, I’ve gained greater understanding of our Father’s love for all.
You see, God has chosen each one—invited us—made the way for us—to enter into His family. He desires we all believe upon His Son, Jesus, receive His Spirit, and proclaim we are His children. Paul wrote in Romans 8:15-17 (NASB):
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
In Galatians 3:26-29 (NASB), Paul professed:
For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Finally, in Ephesians 1:3-6 (NASB), Paul worshiped God, declaring His goodness in choosing us and predestining us to be in His family:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.
You are chosen by God—to be His daughter, His heir, His child of promise. That is how the Father sees you.
We have been predestined by the Father to be adopted by Him, into the family of God, through Jesus. That is our Father’s will. It doesn’t matter the millions of people who have walked this earth, the magnificent gifts of others, the great contributions certain ones have made, the seemingly more need, lack, or value of others…God wants YOU! God has chosen YOU!
God desires all people be saved. He adopts all who call upon Jesus into His family. With adoption, it is definitive, clear, and confirmed that you are indeed chosen. My struggle as a child was rooted in the fact that my parents chose to adopt four children, and chose to provide foster care…but did they choose me, too?
Of course they did! …it was my decision to respond to their love for me. Similarly, it is each of our decisions to respond to our Father’s love. Know you are chosen; you are wanted; you are loved. And, through Christ, you are a daughter and an heir of God. See yourself as your Father sees you and be secure in your position in the family of God.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 3:1
