Everyone who has known me my whole life is currently so confused because they know good and well that I was not adopted. All of the people who have had their suspicions because of my red hair and pasty skin in the midst of caramel skin-toned parents and sisters are saying "I knew it" under in their heads.
No. I was not literally left orphaned and adopted into my wonderful family. My mother is my biological mother and my father my real, earthly father.
But, I was an orphan to this world. Abandoned by sin. I was in need of a perfect savior and that is exactly what He provided. I in no way, shape, or form deserved to be adopted by a King and turned into one of His most prized possession. I was a broken child, covered in my own filth, and the Lord picked me up from my desperation and bathed me in His grace. He clothed me in His righteousness and glory and fed me the fruits of His very own Spirit. He gave me His family name.
This is why I believe that adoption of orphans in the world in which we live is a must. It's not a calling for some people, but a command from the Father to His children, the ones who were adopted by Him.
My old youth minister and his wife are two of my favorite people in the universe. I had the privilege of living with them this summer while I interned at a church near their family. Daniel and Meredith have one biological son, Nolan, and two adopted children, Mason and Sophia. Meredith's heart is the purest and truest one in the world. Adoption has been something she knew she was commanded to do since she was a child and still is her biggest passion in life. Daniel and Meredith want their lives to actually help other people. They don't care if they are comfortable or living in luxury. They don't mind that their family doesn't look like the regular Americans. They want to meet a need, and they are doing just that. They want to give children a life where they will know their Heavenly Father's vast love for them, a love they might not have known otherwise.
Okay, yeah sure adoption costs a lot of money. I totally get that. But I also get that the God I serve is faithful. He provides for us, especially when we are doing something that is so close to His heart. If we continue to do life relying only on ourselves, how will the Lord prove His faithfulness? I also understand that there are possibilities that are "scary" and the idea of our comfort being compromised is too much for our brains to process since it's all we've ever known. But please someone show me where in the Bible it says that our lives are supposed to be safe and comfortable. It's not in there because the Lord has called us to more exciting things than mundane ole living.
How terrible would it be to get to the end of our lives and tell our judge that the reason we didn't take risks for Him was because we were scared of debt, or too in love with comfort to give it up for Him. I'm pretty sure God isn't going to be okay with that excuse. To whom much was given, much will be required, and we have been given oh so much.
Katie Davis beautifully says, "Adoption is the reason I can come before God's throne and beg Him for mercy, because He has predestined me to be adopted as His child through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-- to the praise of His glorious grace."
It is His command to those that He has adopted into His family to care for the orphans and widows of this world. Now let's do it.
