A Spirit of Adoption
As many of you who know, Rhonda and I are adopting a nine year old boy. This is a process that is unique, sometimes scary, but mostly wonderful. I have contemplated some things over the past five months since he has been with us, which I would like to share.
Initially in the early stages of getting to know us, learning the rules of the home, and adjusting to being able to trust that we were truly interested in his best interest; there was some dysfunction.
Many of the simple principles, which many of us take for granted with children that have been in the home for a while, had to be reinforced over and over again. This is simply establishing the first principles of the house of David and Rhonda.
1 Peter 2:2 “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”
Hebrews 5:12 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
As time has passed, and he has run into a unified front, which was determined to stop bad behavior, establish healthy foundations in behavior, encourage good behavior, and give structure, he has become used to the training, he knows the rules, and is able to now be an active participant in the betterment of the house.
Hebrews 12:7-11 “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”
In the last month or so, Rhonda and I have grown so close to this young man, that we cannot imagine our lives without him. He has responded to a sound family relationship that he has never known before. He has started writing our last name on his papers at school (his own idea), introduces us as his parents (mom and dad).
Romans 8:15-17 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
This process has far more meaning to me than ever before! I will let you guess which one? I will share this with him in a few years and hope to teach him to appreciate this process as well!
May we all appreciate our adoption to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, and Receive the Spirit of Adoption!