Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Romans 8:12-25 (NRSV)

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

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Reflect

In the past few years I have witnessed several friends reach the end of their adoption journey and bring their children home. Some of the children came from other countries, some from hospitals down the street. Regardless of how long and how far the physical and emotional journey may have taken those families, the overwhelming sentiment at the end was joy. It made me wonder in the joy that God must know when a new child is adopted into the family of Christ. How many magnitudes greater is the joy of Heaven for a new child, than that of the earthly parents we see around us traveling that same road?

It is our calling as children of God to grow the family. To bring more souls into the knowledge and acceptance of Christ’s love and forgiveness. It seems against the grain to want to share such a rich inheritance with as many people as possible, but as Christians we must often do the opposite of what the world expects. We are called to share the gospel, to draw people into the family embrace of God’s church, to go out in hopes of bringing more people under the spirit of adoption and into a share of the glorious inheritance that has been promised.

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Pray

Lord, help me to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when I am called to act and speak the gospel. Let me reach out to those around me who may not know of your love and the saving grace of Jesus. Help me to see and meet the needs of the children you are still seeking. Help me to bring more people into the embrace of your family. Show me how to grow your church with love and joy in a spirit of adoption. Amen.

Go with God.