The Backdrop
Picture this scene from the Roman world of New Testament times: A son is born into a poor family with a huge financial debt. The son’s parents pass away, leaving the son with the debt. Because the child has no means of making an income, he’s taken as a slave to work off the debt. Soon, however, the child is adopted by a wealthy family. In that instant two things change: The debt of the child is canceled (by rules of adoption) and the child now enjoys the riches of his new family.
The What
Do This: Imagine yourself as that child in slavery. After all, that’s how we all start out—as helpless children with a debt we can’t pay.
Now Do This: Read the passages on the facing page. Mark every mention of a family situation. Look for words such as birth, born, sons, children and heirs.
Going Inward
If you haven’t caught on already, these verses are talking about you! Now, think of yourself as that child who’s been adopted by a wealthy family (God’s family). How are you described in these passages? Make a list in the space below.
The So What
Think about it for a second: Your entire future is now shaped by the fact that you’ve been adopted by God! In fact, do more than think about it—really chew on it! Dwell on it to the point that it makes you smile. If you need more info about what your heavenly Father and His family is like, read these verses from your Bible:
The Word
11 [Jesus] came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. 12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
15 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.” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
