Devotional: Applying the Bible to my today.
Read: Ephesians 1
“Have you brought your foster kid to your house yet?,” the 7 year old boy asked from the other side of the fence. This was a follow up question to several meetings we’ve had at the fence over the last 3 months. This boy, whom I will call Sam, frequents our neighborhood because his foster parent’s family lives near by.
Sam told me during our first meeting about more than a dozen foster homes he and his little brother have been in. I told him that our little boy is in a foster home and about his recent move to a new foster home. This somehow connected Sam and me. Now we often meet at the fence to check in with each other.
During one such meeting Sam told me that he hopes he will get adopted by this family.
“Do you know what it means to pray to God, Sam?” I asked.
“Sure, I think so.”
“Well, I think God has a plan for you just like he has for our son that we are adopting. So, lets make a deal – I will pray everyday for you and your adoption, and you can pray for our son and his adoption.”
“I’ll do that!” He was delighted by this agreement, and he has been diligent to report back frequently.
Our meeting this week was so hard – I can’t stop thinking about it. After he asked about our son, I asked if there was any information on his adoption. He first told me that his foster parents are adopting a 1 year old that is not currently living with them. Then after a long pause, he shared his perception of what was going on with his potential adoption.
“When I first moved to their house, I was bad. So they told me they wouldn’t adopt me if I was bad. Then I was good. They think I am trying to manipulate them just so they will adopt me, so they don’t know if they are going to do it or not.”
Sam’s story is so hard to ponder, but it is the same message that many people are harboring – “you’re not good enough”. This is the message that often impacts every action, attitude and relationship one may have from now until the end of life.
The hurts of the past often mold and shape the way our ears listen and our minds process the words of those around us. We become hardened or feel defeated. Many times Christians or those considering Christ spend the majority of their time feeling guilty because they can’t live up to some standard.
Is this truly the message God is trying to convey to us? “I’ll adopt you as My child if you can just be good enough… prove to me that you are good enough.”
Ephesians 1 is full of insights as to God’s message and intentions for us:
“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us… In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will…” (emphasis is mine)
There is so much wrapped up in these few verses… truth that should be music to our ears! He did everything He did on the cross with “all wisdom and insight”. Do you know what that means? That means that He knew everything about you, what you would do and all the ways that you would fall short, yet He still in all His kindness freely lavished us with His love and redemption. We have been adopted by the perfect Heavenly Father with no stipulations other than to just accept the gift He is offering.
Friends, I am so thankful for a God that accepts me despite my faults. I am so thankful that He loves me even when I listen to the lies of the enemy that “I am not good enough”. I pray that if you are struggling with this lie today that your ears and heart would be opened to the truth.
*If you need additional encouragement, listen to this song: Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns
*Will you join me in praying for my buddy Sam – that he will find a “forever” family that will honor the child God made him to be?
*If I can pray for you in a specific way, please let me know by leaving a comment.
What does it means to be adopted by Christ? Learn more…
