A Spirit of Adoption

The father was paying at the cash register of the farmer's market. The son was playing around his legs, ducking under the counter. A boy about the same age came running up to join in the fun. But before they could get started, the son had something to say. He caught the boy's attention, pointed toward the man, and with a proud smile announced, "That's my Papa." He could barely express himself being only two years old, but he could already introduce his dad with confidence and pride.

"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" Galatians 4:6

Adoption is more than a judicial decree or a legal document. There is a spirit of adoption that runs much deeper than oaths and swears and certificates. According to the law, there is no difference between a biological child and an adopted child. That's pretty profound when you think about it. But who cares what the birth certificate says unless the parents see it the same way? Who cares unless the same deep love is shown, the same great affection is present? This where the real wonder of adoption takes place. To change a certificate: that's law books. To accept a child fully as one's own: that's adoption.

cross reference from my favorite movie, an adoption that's not quite really an adoption:


That God adopts us could remain a cold concept on the pages of systematic theology and Bible doctrine textbooks. Who cares, unless the Spirit enables us to cry out to him in the same voice and the same name that Jesus himself used. The real wonder of adoption is when we speak of the creator of the universe and proudly grin with confidence, "That's my Papa."

The real wonder is when the assurance and security that comes with a relationship like this one begins to transform everything else in our lives.