Adoption

(I’m breaking my review of 2020-2022 articles to celebrate!)

Unless they have been hiding under a rock, my friends on social media know that my bride and I had a very special occasion recently. Not only did we have one, but our entire family also had one. Because of this, the result was that my wife and I became grandparents! Our son and daughter-in-love became parents, and our other son became an uncle. Our family officially expanded with the completion of a two-year process called adoption!

My mother wrote that she had never seen two people more excited than us about becoming grandparents. Yes, we are still on cloud nine and I believe we are climbing higher! We have waited for this completion for a long time, and we are thriving in our new roles.

As a theology geek, though, I realize the significance of adoption. These two children my son and daughter-in-love adopted, did not know us about twenty-five months ago are now legally endowed with the Garrett last name. They are identified as ours. Even their birth certificates and social security numbers are wiped clean and new ones are issued. They are our responsibility. They are my son’s responsibility. Though they truly deserved none of this, they were granted this status and are completely part of our family.

Here comes the theology geek. We all were estranged from God and worse yet, were rebels against Him. Through God’s tremendous, unfathomable love, we who received grace became His children, though we did not deserve it. God called us and adopted us. We now live with a new legal status.

I love those kids. I favor those kids. I smile at the thought of those kid…my grandchildren! I seek the best for them and seek to provide the best for them. I cannot imagine life without them. Their status is irrevocable. They can never lose my love for them.

God feels the same for those He calls His own. He loves us. He seeks the best for us, and He seeks to provide the best for us. Our status is irrevocable. We can never lose His love for us. This attitude should change the way we understand and relate to God. We are entitled, as His children, to receive His loving care, to rely upon His resources, and to rest, knowing that all will be well because we are His. We can approach Him with confidence, knowing He has good will toward us and seeks to bless us.

As my grandchildren grow, I really want to help shape their character. I look forward to fishing lessons, ball games, and life lessons. I want to teach them to kayak, swim, enjoy life, and worship and serve the Lord. I know, though, there will be times when, against my grandfatherly desire, I will have to discipline them as part of shaping them to become responsible Christian citizens. That is part of my role.

God shapes us. He shapes our character and helps us grow more like Jesus. He teaches us wonderful things in this life. He also must discipline us to enable us to grow more like Jesus. He does this because He made us His children. Is that not wonderful? I stand amazed!

I can honestly tell you that just as becoming a husband and as becoming a father changed my life, becoming a grandfather, or as they call me, “Pops,” has changed me supremely. I have been relishing a new understanding of our Father and the theological doctrine of adoption. God’s love is so deep and so undeserved, yet so amazing.

I encourage you, if you truly do not know the love of God, to consider how great a love He must have to reach out and take undeserving sinners like you and me and adopt them as His own children. I pray you can find the peace of belonging to the family of the one and only God of the universe, knowing that you are cared for forever. There is no realization greater than this.

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Songwriter: Stuart Townend

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing