The scripture of the week comes out of the letter to the church
at Ephesus. The first section of the letter is a doxology of praise to God.
This doxology has three parts. The three parts deal with the role of each
person in the Godhead. The Father is praised for choosing us to be in Christ
and the blessings that flow from His election. The Son is praised for doing
the work of redemption so that we can experience the blessings of election.
The Holy Spirit is praised for securing our place in eternity and making
these blessings a present reality. Paul uses the term adoption to describe
this new relationship with God. I know a little about adoption. I am blessed
to have two adopted children. It was a lot of work going through the
screening process in order to adopt a child. When a couple goes through this
process of adopting a child, they are very aware of what they are doing. It
is one of the greatest choices one can make in life! When a child is placed
in the arms of an adopted parent, the bond becomes immediate and special!
Going through this process personally, I became more aware of how special I
am as an adopted child of the Kingdom! I praise God that He choose me to be
a son. Jesus told His disciples that they were no longer orphans, but
children of God. This is our God given identity. No matter what I experience
in life, I can be assured that I am someone! As an adopted child, I have a
place in the kingdom of God. If you have received Christ as your Lord and
Savior, you have an eternal identity. No one can take that away from you. In
this world of contradiction, it may seem that you are a stranger and alien.
No problem, you and I have an identity as a child of God. Claim it and live
it!
