Who Are You?

I loved Sunday’s sermon. In fact, I listened to it twice and you can listen to it here http://thecreekonline.net/media.php?pageID=5. Chris talked, in his message, about what adoption meant in the culture that Paul addressed when He spoke of being adopted into God’s family. It wasn’t the way we think of adoption in our society, where we rescue a child in need. Adoption would have been more like finding the right person to meet the need and fulfill the need of leadership in the adopting family. With the adoption came freedom from the old life with its debts and baggage, but also, the expectation of becoming the person who could lead; who could be an important part in providing what was missing in that family.

One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10, which tells us that we are a masterpiece because we have been made new by our adoption into God’s family and we are to use that advantage to fulfill the plan He made long before we were born.  So often we see our “adoption” into Christianity as being saved from our past and receiving the gift of eternity with God. But, what about the responsibility to fulfill God’s plan in our new family? Who are YOU in His family?  Are you the prodigal child that squanders their inheritance and disregards your identity to find your own way? Or are you the one who stays close to the Father, but is missing the benefit of being His? Or are you eagerly seeking the plan He has for you as His child?

I’m not talking about following a creed or a set of rules. Adoption into God’s family is free and cannot be earned with good behavior. In the preamble to the Ten Commandments, God describes Himself as the One who rescued them from bondage. As a result of that act of love, God gave them guidelines on how to live in that freedom, with Him and with others. It wasn’t about giving rules of conduct. It was a gift to help them navigate life with God and others.

I am an adoptive mama. God gave us 4 beautiful children. Two of them through the miracle of birth; two that He selected in order to make our family complete. To bear children, there was no test, however, to adopt, we were tested, interviewed, and examined, in more ways than I knew you could look at a person, in order to adopt. Then, a committee recommended us, a judge approved us, and they became our forever children. Their names were changed. They were given new birth certificates that indicated they were born to us at the address where we lived on the date of their birth. It seemed odd to me that their past was blotted out, and with their new name, came a new heritage. I was now the one responsible to direct them and plan for their success.

Who are you? You are the heritage of your children. Give them good roots. Never miss an opportunity to show your kids the benefit of walking with their Creator. Help them to see that His plan for them is unique and perfect. Show them the joy of being in His presence so they will desire that above all else. Then let them go, when the time comes. Let them question and challenge and take their inheritance on the journey that may terrify you… because you can’t hold them or force them or guilt them into following the Leader. But the Leader has the power to go with them, watch over them, speak to them, and bring them home.

Hold them in your heart and in your prayers forever. That is what your Father has done for you.