adoption

Feb

2024

Unbreakable Bond

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29)

The Bible contains an amazing promise from Jesus that should give every Christian great comfort and confidence. Jesus says in the Gospel of John that God the Father has given believers to Him as a gift, and that no one can ever take us out of God’s hand.

Salvation Comes from God’s Grace

First, Jesus tells us that Christians belong to Him because God the Father has given them to Him. This means that our salvation does not depend on anything we do to earn it. Instead, it depends completely on God’s grace and love towards us.

Before time began, God chose us and set His love upon us. He saved us and adopted us as His own dear children, not because we were worthy, but because He is so gracious and kind.

Since our salvation comes as a free gift from God, we can be sure that He will not change His mind later and turn His back on us. He knew all our flaws and failures ahead of time, and he saved us anyway.

His love lasts forever, because God Himself lasts forever. Our security is based on God’s faithful promise, not our own efforts.

God Rules Over All Things

Jesus also reminds us that God His Father is greater than all. As the eternal Creator of the universe, God has supreme power and authority over all that exists.

No one can compete with Him or threaten Him in any way. Every king and every ruler must ultimately give account to God.

This means that God has the power to protect us and keep us safe no matter what may come against us. No enemy, no sickness or tragedy, no hardship or danger is too much for God to handle or shield us from.

God is mightier than any force in heaven or on earth. We can take refuge in him because nothing can overcome His strength and love for His people.

No One Can Snatch Us from God’s Grip

Not only is God supremely powerful, Jesus says, but He also holds on tightly to those who believe in Him. No one can snatch us out of His hand—we are gripped firmly by the Almighty Creator who loves us!

Just as a loving parent holds onto a small child to keep them from wandering into danger, God cradles us in His mighty hands. He keeps his eye always on us, guiding our steps. He surrounds us constantly with His comfort, strength and love.

We do not keep ourselves safe from enemies or hardship through our own power. We rely fully on God’s power and faithfulness towards us. Our confidence comes from understanding that the eternal, almighty Creator of the universe has promised to hold onto us tightly forever.

He will never forget us or let us slip through His fingers. His grip on our lives will never loosen or grow weak.

United with God Forever

This intimate bond between God and His people was made possible through Jesus. Jesus is God in human form who lived among us. He died and rose again to pay for our sins, making reconciliation between God and man possible.

Now Jesus invites us to be united with Him and with God the Father in a relationship of love. He wants us to know Him, enjoy close friendship with Him, and reflect His love out into the world.

Because of Jesus, Christians do not relate to God merely through laws or rituals. We have intimacy with God—we are united to Him by Jesus Christ our Lord! God embraces us as His own dear children and promises to keep us safe, loved, and secure in His hands forever.

Understanding this incredible privilege should inspire our deep love, gratitude and reverence for God our Father, now and for all eternity.

~ Check Out ~
“One Minute with God”

Jan

2024

Gift of Abundant Grace

Romans 5:17 – For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Contrasting Effects

While Adam’s sin ushered death into the world, Christ came to overwhelm sin with surpassing grace and the gift of righteousness. His redemption reverses the curse with boundless blessings.

Christ more than erased Adam’s damage. He pours out radical grace that takes us further than the original paradise. In Him, we are adopted children given authority to reign.

Far Greater Provision

Imagine being imprisoned for years only to not just be released, but become cherished sons welcomed into the king’s palace with royal rights and privileges. This illustrates God’s lavish grace.

In Christ, we gain far more than was lost. We are co-heirs with Him over God’s estate. As grace is embraced through faith, we are empowered to reign in life.

Thank You for Abounding Grace

Lord, I stand in awe at the super-abounding grace You freely give me in Christ. Thank You for granting me not only pardon but adoption, purpose, power, authority – abundant life. Your grace truly abounds!

~ Check Out ~
“One Minute with God”

Apr

2023

Salvation

As believers in Christ, we know that our faith in Him leads to the ultimate result: the salvation of our souls. In 1 Peter 1:9, we are reminded that our faith in Christ is not in vain, but rather it leads to eternal life with Him.

The salvation of our souls is not something that we can earn or achieve on our own. It is a gift from God that we receive through our faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot save ourselves, but we can put our faith in Jesus who has already paid the price for our sins.

As we continue to grow in our faith, we can have confidence that we will receive the end result of our faith: eternal life with Christ. This hope and assurance can bring great comfort and peace to our hearts, especially in times of difficulty and uncertainty.

Peter reminds us in this Scripture, that the end result of our faith is the salvation of our souls. It is not something that we can earn or achieve on our own, but rather it is a gift from God that we receive through our faith in Jesus Christ. As we continue to grow in our faith, let us have confidence in the hope and assurance of eternal life with Christ.

Jan

2019

Adopted

If you ever wondered about God’s love for you, consider the language the apostle Paul uses to describe the relationship between God and you; he declared we are, adopted.

Adoption – “To take into one’s family through legal means and raise, as one’s own child”

“The adopted child is treated by law, as the natural child of the adopting parents, upon the entry of the final adoption decree. The adopted child, therefore, gains the right to inherit from the adoptive parents and adoptive parents’ relatives. . .”

(Adoption Information Clearinghouse)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6

Oct

2017

I am an Alien

It took a few years to come to this conclusion; but I am convinced that; “I am an alien.” I know, you are probably rolling your eyes right now thinking; “Rock has finally gone off his ROCK-er.”

Perhaps I have, but allow me to explain . . .

It is no big secret that I am an unashamed follower of Jesus. I am not perfect on my journey with Him, however, I do spend quality time with Him and truly call Him my best Friend. The friendship I am speaking of took a while to develop and was entirely His own idea.

Many years ago, through an amazing set of circumstances, I came to the realization that I was a spiritual mess. After chasing drugs, money and other worthless “things,” I found myself faced with a decision to either believe in God, or walk away, rejecting Him, along with His offer of redemption.

I recall kneeling at an altar in an old barn type building one hot July night, where they were holding “religious services.” I risked everything and went to Him; afraid He would reject me, afraid of what people would say, afraid of my own fallibilities.

As I knelt there, tears flowing, I said to God; “I have nothing to give you, nothing at all.” At that moment, I heard the kindest voice say; “I’ll take it.”

It was there, in that hot building, with dozens of hopeful people looking on, that my friendship with Jesus began. Amazingly, on the other side of that altar, was my wife, Sherri, having a similar experience and she also became a friend of Jesus that night!

It took no time at all for this relationship with Jesus to really get moving. He introduced me to His Father, and to the Holy Spirit, who would come and live constantly with me, helping me, teaching me and directing my steps!

As I alluded to in the beginning of this writing, I did not, and still do not, always get it right. There have been some tumultuous times in our friendship. We have had serious disagreements, we have laughed together, wept together, and there have been times when I thought the relationship might be irrevocably damaged; not on His part, but mine!

The thing is; this friendship with Jesus is so much more. When He introduced me to His Father, there was a celebration and according to God’s own Word; I became adopted into His family . . . WHAT?

Colossians 1:13-14

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”

I was rescued from the darkness and brought into His Kingdom! This is not a fantasy show; this is a spiritual reality, but it gets even better!

According to God’s Word, not only have I been rescued, I have been adopted as a son! Seriously? The Bible says . . .

Romans 8:15

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Check this out about what adoption rights are . . .

Adoption – “To take into one’s family through legal means and raise as one’s own child”

The adopted child is treated by law as the natural child of the adopting parents, upon the entry of the final adoption decree. The adopted child, therefore, gains the right to inherit from the adoptive parents and adoptive parents’ relatives. . . (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse)

So . . . there you have it! I am now a permanent citizen of the Kingdom of God! How amazing is that! As an adopted son, now living in “The Kingdom of God” it behooves me to learn all I can about my new home and to live in such a manner as to reflect my gratitude for this amazing gift!

As I have studied the ways of His “Kingdom” I have come to the realization that it truly is my spiritual home; I reside there NOW! I don’t have to die to get there!

One thing we learn quickly as an adopted son or daughter is that, God our Father, along with the Son (Jesus) and The Holy Spirit, is on a mission. Furthermore, those who are adopted into this family of God, are invited to join in this mission and are expected to wholeheartedly engage in it!

For this reason, we are “sent” to the world, to express Kingdom ideas such as; love, peace, joy, salvation, forgiveness, kindness. We are here as missionaries; we are not of this world . . . still not convinced?

Listen to the words of Jesus Himself as He prays to His Father and ours in the Gospel of John . . .

John 17:13-18

But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

So there it is . . . I am an alien; I come from another place, I am not of this world! SWEET!