By: The Rev. Craig Stephans
In recent days, I have heard two stories of adults that had been adopted as babies later searching for and finding biological parents. In both stories, those who had been adopted insisted that their adoptive parents were “Mom and Dad.” However, they also had a longing to know their biological parents, because as adults they were cognizant of the gift the biological mom had given them. The mother chose life and adoption rather than death through abortion. As adults, the adopted children were thankful and sympathetic toward their biological mothers. The text from Galatians on this day speaks of our heavenly Father as being an adoptive dad. God made the sacrifice of his one and only son Jesus, so that He could adopt us as His own, too. He sees himself as our real Father-our Abba.
Through the Father’s adoption of us, we have not become anything less than the love of His life. To assure us of His love for us, He has given us the Spirit of his one and only Son, so that we can enter into the same intimate relationship with Him that Jesus experiences. The Father has done everything supernaturally possible for us, His creatures, to have a relationship with Him as His children. Our heavenly Father and Creator affirms the goodness of adoption as a life-affirming choice. Rather than assign us to death, He has welcomed us into life. For the pregnant woman who cannot or does not want to raise her child, God has shown the way of life. Even if she chooses not to keep her baby, she can still choose life and bless her baby with loving parents. If adoption is the means by which we become God’s children, it is a way worthy of any child. Adoption is miraculous not shameful; it is a victorious act and not one of failure. To those who believe in Jesus and receive Him, God gives the power to become His children. That same power is present to help mothers give their children to adoptive parents. That same power is present to help adoptive parents and their adopting children become family. If and when the time comes for an adopted child to seek reunion with a biological parent that same power will be present for reconciliation and blessing.