Are you adopted? If you were, would that make your parents love you less or more? What if they paid an adoption agency a million bucks because they loved you at first sight? What if even though you hated them, stole from them, and swore at them, their love remained steadfast and sure?

Well, that’s why Jesus came at Christmas—to adopt sinners like you and me. But it cost him growing up to die on a cross so we could be adopted into God’s family! Wow.

“When the time was fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of sons. [That we might be adopted.] Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out ‘Abba, Father…and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Gal. 4:4-7). Because of our adoption, the Holy Spirit prompts us to call God, Abba which means, Daddy. As God’s adopted children we inherit all the rights and privileges of being in his family. No wonder then, that in prayer we can bring our requests to God and cry out, “our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name”.

As John writes of Jesus, “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Those who receive Christ by genuinely believing in what his name stands for, are adopted into God’s family. They become children of God.

As Ephesians declares, “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Eph. 1:5). This adoption was in spite of the fact that we were dead to God, lost in our transgressions and sins…following the ways of the world and the devil…and living to gratify our lusts…as children of wrath. (See Eph. 2:1-3).

No longer lonely, we have a family that extends throughout the world and into the realms of glory. No longer afraid, we have a big brother Jesus and an all-powerful Father. No longer in doubt, but assured by the Holy Spirit that we are God’s children. No longer paupers, but joint-heirs with Christ of incalculable wealth. No longer defenseless, but indwelt by the dynamite of the Spirit and connected to all the resources of the universe. No longer fearful of disaster, we are confident because we are on the glory-side. Victory in Jesus is assured. Of course, like those in any family we share the sufferings and troubles endured by the family.

If you have turned from your sins, admitting them to God and believed that Jesus died and rose from the dead, you are an adopted child of God!

Have an astounding Christmas, child of God.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. If I can help you spiritually, let me know. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)