“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, ‘What’s next, Papa?’ God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.”
“Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way!” Eugene Peterson, The Message, Romans 8:15-17, 35
Discussing the part of Romans 8 that deals with our adoption as “sons” (yes, sons, women is actually a very dignifying attributive in Biblical context, and we women are called “sons”! In that culture, being a son meant you got the inheritance!), Tim Keller writes:
“Secondly, the image of “adoption” tells us that our relationship with God is based completely on a legal act by the Father. You don’t “win” a father, and you don’t “negotiate” for a parent. Adoption is a legal act on the part of the father — it is very expensive and costly only for him. There is nothing the son does to win or earn the status. It is simply received (v.15).”
I read this and thought, “Well, no. At least in the experience of so many people I know, you do ‘win’ a father, and you do ‘negotiate’ for a parent.’ I thought, “Maybe we should wish we were adopted!” And then it hit me — the glorious good news! Oh yeah, we are! God the Father went to a lot of trouble and expense to adopt ME. Wow. And I didn’t do anything to earn or win the status. I must simply RECEIVE it.
That’s it. All the words I’m going to write on this because I think it’s time for us to step back and ponder this amazing story, more amazing than any one you’ll see on CNN today.
Ponder:
1. Say it aloud, write it five times. God went to a lot of cost and expense to adopt ME! How do you feel about that?
2. Again, say it aloud, write it five times. “And I didn’t do anything to earn or deserve it.” How do you feel about that?
3. One more time, “I must simply RECEIVE it.” How do you feel about that?
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