Divine Adoption
Divine adoption is an act of grace.
A devotion I recently shared with my new congregation. Walker Chapel United Methodist Church has been in ministry to Arlington and beyond for over 150 years.
If you are in town, we would love for you to join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM. You can also join us online.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:15-17
Adoption is part of God's redemptive plan for creation. Romans 8:17 reminds us of our inheritance as children of God. We are co-heirs with Christ, sharing in both His sufferings and His glory. This is a powerful reminder of our intimate connection to the divine inheritance promised to Jesus. As followers of Christ, it is our privilege to participate in His fellowship of sufferings and His victory. We have been adopted into God's family and the incredible blessings that come with it.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, believed in the Holy Spirit's affirmation of our adoption, which fosters a profound sense of closeness with the Father. This divine confirmation reminds us to lead a life of discipleship guided by faith and obedience to God's Word.
Understanding ourselves as co-heirs with Christ brings both humility and hope. We humbly acknowledge that our adoption is not based on our own merit but on God's unconditional love and grace. We also have hope, knowing that in Christ, we have an unshakable hope that surpasses any trial or hardship.
Our adoption by God is not just a legal transaction but an act of lavish love. Divine adoption is an act of grace. God adopts us into God's family, embracing us with divine love and transforming us into beloved children. As co-heirs with Christ, we share in the privileges and responsibilities of the Kingdom of God. We are transformed by God's grace and participate in God's redemptive mission.
By recognizing our adoption and co-heirship, we are able to respond with worship, discipleship, and service. As we embrace the truth that we are loved and chosen by God, we can extend that same love to those who are vulnerable and marginalized, reflecting the heart of our Heavenly Father. Through fully accepting our adoption by God and co-heirship with Christ, we enter into a beautiful divine relationship with eternal significance. This relationship is characterized by love, redemption, and a shared inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
Prayer - Almighty God, in calling each of us your beloved, you have formed a new family. Help us to remember your family crosses the barriers are distinctions we continue to hold within our community. As we become more aware of your grace, growing in sanctification, move us to see beyond our own barriers so that we can come to know the full beauty of your adoption. Amen