Blessed As His Adopted Children
December 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Blessed As His Adopted Children
The Feature articles this month focus on children, particularly those in Scripture who were raised by people other than their parents. Surely, many of our readers can relate well with these Bible stories, having had similar experiences themselves.
Spiritually, all believers, regardless of their pasts, are being raised as adopted children, beloved by God the Father (Rom. 1:7, 8:15; 1 Jn. 3:2). Unlike people, our Father nurtures us perfectly, wholly for His glory (Mt. 5:48; Heb. 13:20-21). He is always watching over us with His loving care, desiring to bless us abundantly through the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7, 2:7).
Those who are raising children typically try to give them gifts this time of year. However, many times it is not possible for a variety of reasons. A number of organizations accept presents to give to children who would otherwise go without. At least one ministry does this work on an international scale, seeking to use the opportunity to tell about the greatest gift of all – salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Consider this gift from above:
- “The grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many … Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ … Through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Rom. 5:15,17-18 NKJV).
- “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
- “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
We have much to learn about the Father’s gift and His everlasting love. Yet we already echo what the apostle wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:15, saying, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” May we always be thankful for all He has done and still does in love to us – His adopted children!
By Paul Alberts