“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” ~Ephesians 1:3-6
Abba, Father, why is it that you adopted me? I know it was not my goodness or moral purity. It was not my intellect or ability to serve in some great capacity in your kingdom. When I reflect upon who I am in relation to your majesty, I am overwhelmed with how utterly unworthy I am to be associated with Jesus.
And yet he is pleased to call me his brother. And you, Father, are delighted to call me your son. This is because you chose to adopt me as a son as an act of mercy, “to the praise of your glorious grace!” Yes, I am unworthy. Your kindness to me is undeserved. But you have set your love upon me before the creation of the world, and proven it by sending Jesus to pay the adoption price on the cross.
Like a Romanian orphan, I have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and delivered unto the kingdom of light. I am now a citizen of heaven with the full rights of a son of God. Full rights! Amazing! As a child of a king has access to the epicenter of power and rule over a nation, so I have access to the King of all creation.
And so why do I live on so many days as if I were a spiritual orphan with no Abba? Why am I so insecure? Why do I crave approval and praise and need affirmation from peers and those of significance so badly? Me, a son of the King, concerned about what others think of me. How can it be?
And how can I worry like I do? How can a son of the King live in fear of the future or with regret over the past, knowing that his Father-King oversees the lives of his sons and daughters, guiding them and working in and through them for their good. Not so much so that they get what they want, but that they get what they need—the One thing needful, which is more of Jesus.
When I am unaware that being near to you in your presence, Jesus, is my great need, I forget the gospel, and begin seeking a name for myself, rather than magnifying your name as my Savior, Friend and Brother. Forgive me of such self-oriented sin that causes an orphan spirit to grow within my heart.
But you have given me your Spirit, so that I may cry out, “Abba, Father.” He is the Spirit of adoption who enables me to remember who I am, and whose I am. I have been declared by the King to be his holy, blameless, and dearly loved, child—from before the creation of the world. No, it was not about me that I was adopted. It was all about you, Father. Your love. Your grace. Your will. So help me cry out even today for more more of your Spirit to indwell me and to show me Jesus— to the praise of your glorious grace.
