Topic: Christianity: Adopted into the Family  [RICK WARREN Devotional 6 October 2021]

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Christianity: Adopted into the Family

BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 6, 2021
FROM CONNECTING WITH GOD: THE LORD’S PRAYER

“You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.”

Romans 15:6-7 (NCV)Most people think Christianity is a belief system. It’s true that Christianity includes beliefs—but it’s so much more than that. It’s about belonging and connection. When you’re a Christian, you belong to the family of God and are connected to the body of Christ.

There are only two ways to get into a family: You can be born into it or adopted into it. Both phrases are used in the Bible to explain what it means to be brought into the family of God. You are “born again” into the family of God, and you are “adopted” into the family of God.

Once you’re born, you can’t be unborn. Your relationship with your parents may be broken, but you are still their child. In the same way, once you are born again into the family of God, you can’t be unborn. You remain in the family of God!

God also says you’re adopted into his family. According to New Testament-era Roman law, people could disown children they birthed. But if they adopted children, they were forbidden to ever disown them. God says you are not only born again into his family, but he has adopted you—and there is no way he will ever disown you. That’s good news!

You may ask, “Really? No matter what I do, God won’t let me go?” Yes, no matter what you do!

When you become part of the family of God, you become part of his church. Church isn’t something you go to; it’s something you belong to. The Bible says, “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church” (1 Timothy 3:15 GW).

Romans 15:6-7 says, “You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God” (NCV).

Just like you are God’s child forever, you are part of his bigger family—the church—forever. That has been God’s plan all along—to make you part of his forever family

• What are the benefits to belonging to the family of God?
• What is the evidence in your life that you belong to the family of God?
• How can you use your gifts and abilities to serve the body of Christ and show the world what it means to belong to God’s family?

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me and make me part of your family forever. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”