The Power of Adoption

Have you heard of Rachel Crow? If you haven't, you will. Rachel made her debut on season one of The X Factor. She captured America's heart from her first appearance on the show. The thing about Rachel is that she has an interesting story. Her birth mother was addicted to crack cocaine. As a matter of fact, there were times when her and her Mother were homeless, and at one point - she even lived in a crack house with her Mom.

Once the authorities found out, Rachel was taken out of the house, placed in foster care and eventually was adopted by another family. On the show, you can see how her adopted mother and sister truly cared for her and supported her.

Rachel understands the importance of adoption. There are a couple things we can be sure of from this story. Rachel will probably never do drugs. This is because she remembers what her past was like and the boundless potential that she now has living with supporting parents.

Christians can take a lesson from this. You see, many of us accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. We view it as a decision that we make. Since it's only a decision, then there are times when we can choose to live according to the flesh... when it's convenient... as a matter of fact, although we're ashamed to admit it, many of us do.

But... what if we realized that we were adopted into God's family. How would that change our lives if on a regular basis we realized what our past was like - and that our past would only bring pain and eventual death. Would we treat this adoption that we have frivolously? I don't think so!

It's time that we stop thinking about Christianity as just a choice that we make - and realize that it's a relationship where we are now a part of God's family. We need to stop "sneaking out of our new house" and going back to our life before adoption. We need to cherish and experience all that God has in store for us as he embraces us as his Children.

Let's stop thinking about this as it being our choice to come to God's house - where as a result, we can leave any time we want to. Let's understand that we've been adopted into a family... and start acting like it!

Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Galatians 4:4-7
King James Version (KJV)
 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

John 1:12-13
King James Version (KJV)
 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 John 3:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
1 John 3
 1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.