Topic: You’ve Been Adopted [Joyce Meyer Devotional 9 July 2020]
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For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!— Romans 8:15 (AMPC)
Did you know that God actually chose you to be His child? How cool is that! The apostle Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of adoption, and He reminds us in every moment that we are God’s children (see Romans 8:16). The word adoption means that we’re brought into the family of God, even though we were previously outsiders, unrelated to Him in any way. We were sinners and separated from God, but in His great mercy, He redeemed us, purchased us, and brought us close to Him again through the blood of His own Son.
We understand adoption in the natural sense. We know that some children are adopted by parents who purposely choose them and take them as their own. What an honor to be chosen on purpose by those who want to pour out their love on them! This is exactly what God did for us as believers in Christ (see 1 John 3:1). Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are now eternally part of His family, and His Spirit lives inside us.
God the Father decided before He ever laid the foundation of the world that He would adopt, love and accept everyone who received Christ as His child. So when we’re saved, we become heirs of God and joint heirs with His Son, Jesus. It’s the knowledge of our family relationship to God that gives us boldness to go to Him for whatever we need (see Hebrews 4:16).
Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for choosing me, for loving me, and for adopting me as Your child. Help me remember that You’re my Dad, and I can come to You at any time, no matter what. In Jesus’ Name, amen.