Messengers of the GospelSample

The Spirit of Adoption

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."

(Romans 8:15-16 NIV)

We will never forget the day we walked out of the orphanage with our son in our arms. We didn’t know him at all, and he didn’t know us. We modeled to him to call us Mama and Dadda, but it meant nothing to him yet. When we picked him up, he was like a sack of potatoes; he didn’t know what son meant.

Adoption meant that we CHOSE him as our son. It meant that as our son, he had direct rights and access to our love and full access to our covering of protection. Over the weeks of meeting his every need, we got to know him, his voice, tendencies, preferences, likes, and dislikes. He got to know the safety of our embrace, the love our kisses conveyed, and the sound of our voice when we called him son. We spent endless hours together in each other’s presence to firmly establish the bond in our relationship.

We wanted him to feel what it meant when we said “son.”

We wanted to experience what it means to say, “We are a family.”

Time and presence solidified this bond. Saying, “I love you” hundreds of times and showing that there were no strings attached started to build trust over time. Now, 20 years down the road, we still celebrate the day we walked out of the orphanage and called him our son. We celebrate “Gotcha Day” because it seals the moment we became family!

Adopting our son was an incredible picture of what our spiritual adoption by our heavenly Father means. God chose us, loves us, and calls us sons and daughters. Time in His presence strengthens the bond and helps me to know His voice.

The Holy Spirit works to remove every obstacle that would keep you from the loving arms of your Heavenly Father. His desire is for you to reconnect with God in a personal relationship—one so personal that you can call him…. Abba, Father, Dad, Papa, and Daddy.

Brandon Lake has a fantastic song called “Adoption Song.” The heart of the song is summed up in the following lines.

“I am adopted

I am beloved

It's my inheritance

I'm a child of God

So when the liar

Starts mouthing off

I'll sing in confidence

My adoption song”

Are there times when you feel distant or disconnected from God? Have you ever felt shame and guilt related to sin or a struggle, and then allowed this to bring fear into your relationship with the Lord? Have you ever felt like your past track record impacts your current reality?

When the lies of the enemy are coming at you, the Holy Spirit is with you. The Holy Spirit brought about your adoption. He brought about your Gotcha Day. When you don’t feel worthy, the Holy Spirit is working to remind you that you are worthy. When you don’t feel loved, the Holy Spirit testifies that you are loved.

Isn’t it unbelievable that the God of the universe invites you to call Him dad?

Reflection:

In your interactions with God, do you feel the freedom and intimacy to address the Lord as Abba… Father… Dad… Papa…, or Daddy.

If you have never talked with the Lord this way, try it out today.