The Spirit of Adoption

The wonderful spiritual reality of adoption whereby God has made every believer a member of His family is one of the most personal benefits of my salvation. John exclaimed with wonder: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1, nasb). In Roman adoption, the child would renounce all ties with the old family, identify with new family members, and receive all the rights and privileges of a new family. Through the great compassion of our God, we renounced our ties with our old father and taskmaster Satan; we gained a new father, new sisters and brothers; and we received blessings and gifts of that new relationship. This replaced the fear of separation and eternal punishment that had bound us until we came to Him. He is no longer a distant God. We can now call Him Father, our Abba—the Hebrew equivalent of “Daddy,” the endearing name a young child calls his father.

Among the happy memories of my childhood near the Atlantic Ocean were our frequent family trips to the beach. I loved playing in the white sand, running in the shoreline puddles, and chasing the foam at the edge of the water, but I was too afraid to venture far from shore. One day, my father gripped my hand and my brother’s hand and off we went. It was not long before the water got higher and the waves became more powerful. I noticed something, though, that as the waters got deeper, my father’s grip became tighter! Soon, fear gave way to laughter and joyous play as Daddy lifted us up with each wave, even when they splashed over him. I never doubted that he would let go. Why? He was my daddy!

Are you afraid because you are facing the rising waters and crashing waves of some kind of trial? Cry out to your heavenly Father, for He will hold your hand tighter if you will leave it there, and He will lift you higher and higher! Your own fear will give way to joy, for He has already absorbed the suffering in Himself for you and for me! After all, He is your daddy!

Heavenly Father, my Abba, I thank You that on the day I believed, You made me Your daughter. As I did with my earthly father, I run into Your strong arms when I am afraid. I look to You as my safe place, my refuge, my shelter! In Your Son’s name I pray, amen.