| A meditation by Dennis Boettger
A story: Our fifth son Steve and his wife are parents to five of their own children. They have also fostered children throughout their marriage, and they have adopted twins and another daughter Aleesa.
Aleesa was in their care on multiple occasions over the course of her life. Her father was not in her life. Her mother was unable to provide proper care. About 2 years ago, she appeared out of her bedroom, and came hesitantly, approaching Marie, her foster mother. She threw a tightly wadded-up piece of paper and quickly ran back to her room. With some difficulty, Marie opened the note, and read: “Would you adopt me too?”
This was a courageous cry from an ‘orphaned’ child, who in this risky act of faith, wrapped in fear, followed the longing of her heart: to be securely identified with the love, acceptance and caring that she experienced in her ‘foster family’. A step away from her past; a step toward her new life.
Several weeks ago, as I was reading in Ephesians the first chapter, a phrase jumped out at me:
“To the Praise of the Glory of His Grace . . . . . . I am adopted!. . . I am accepted!. . . I am forgiven!. . . I am redeemed!”
The Father and Son agreed before Creation, that by Jesus’ sacrifice, grace for adoption is granted to all who come to Jesus in Faith. In Him, we were appointed to adoption for inclusion in His Family. (Eph 1:4,5) This is HIS WILL! The Father wants his family back.
In Jesus’ death and resurrection, He provided equal, unprejudiced access for fallen, broken humanity to the grace, acceptance and love of the Father, by overcoming Satan, and redeeming us! He calls everyone to HIM.
We must be born again! This is adoption!
As an adopted child of our Father, in Jesus Christ his Son, we have access to the dwelling place of God, and to the Father. He establishes His throne in our heart, from where He will rule by His Spirit. In Christ, we are one. In Him, we are family. He instructs us in His will and gives us gifts, a new identity, future and hope. We love Him because He first loved us. By Him we pray: “Our Father….”
His throne, established in Heaven, and in our Hearts simultaneously, is the most secure place in the universe, Holy, and set apart for HIM and all who call him Father.
Through Jesus, by grace, we have access to OUR FATHER! He is the greatest treasure in the universe. To the Praise of the GLORY of Your Grace!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! |
