Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8:14-17

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” NKJV

When I was a missionary in Haiti, I had a missionary friend of mine who took an orphan boy into his home to care for him. The boy moved from the street into his own room which he had never had and enjoyed the warmth of a loving home that lacked nothing. Yet, even though the cupboards were full of food and he was getting three meals a day, he was hiding food throughout the house in fear of the day there would be no food.

We, too, as Christians can oftentimes live with the orphan spirit. We have been born again and have become children of God Almighty who created, owns, and sustains all things by His power and promises to care for us. Yet, we worry about the future. We live in the house of abundance, but we squirrel things away for a rainy day. It also affects our generosity toward God and those around us whom God brings across our path. We are so busy attempting to make ourselves secure that we don’t have time for God or those around us.

No matter whether life is treating you well or you are facing challenges today, allow the Spirit of adoption to rise up in you and reconnect you with “Abba, Father” who dearly loves you and wants to reaffirm to you that you are His child. He is the reason for living, your inheritance, and great reward. The Spirit of adoption not only wants to bring you into a place of security in the Father, but He wants to lead you and empower you with wisdom, knowledge, and might that you in turn would be able to bring the Spirit of adoption to those who are orphaned around you.

As a child of God, let the Spirit of God lead you to reach out to someone with a word of encouragement or and act of kindness. Jesus said,“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Andy Clark