Merciful Adoption
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.1
Pastor Augustine and his wife live in Bihar, India. They have 4 biological children and 4 adopted children. The stories of their adopted children echo our adoption into God's family.
One of their children was about to be thrown into a river as a sacrifice to Hindu gods but, by God’s grace, was rescued and adopted.
Another baby was placed on the train tracks to be run over – but the train was late so the baby was thrown onto the trash heap in the city dump. Dogs came and chewed off her arm. Then the dogs started eating her toes. The baby was bleeding and near death. Someone took the baby and wrapped her in a very dirty blanket for 2 days and then took the baby to the hospital. Her arm was amputated and she was nursed back to health. Pastor Augustine and his wife adopted this baby into their family. Today, this young girl is 18 years old and doing great.2
Like this story of rescue and adoption, we too have been rescued by Christ and adopted into his family. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we were adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family. Jesus was sent down to earth to spiritually sign those adoption papers with His blood, which was shed on the cross. He paid an extraordinary price because He wanted you and I to be a part of His eternal family. For some of us, our rescue was easy and required little healing and for others it was a dramatic and life-altering event that required an enormous amount of spiritual healing. In either situation, God’s Love was equally unconditional and merciful.
This Christmas, may we remember that the birth and arrival of the Savior means that we have been rescued and adopted into the family of the most High God —- One more reason to celebrate the season!
Suggested Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable. Thank you for seeing beyond the ugliness of my heart and the scars on my life and deciding that I was fit for your eternal family. Let your Love shine through me during this season and always. In Jesus’ most precious name, Amen.
1. Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV).
Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.