The first I ever knew that I was adopted was when I was about eleven, and I applied for my Social Security card. I went to the social security office downtown on the bus, and when it was my turn in line, I stepped up and said, “I need to get my social security card so I can get a job,” and I handed her my birth certificate. In a few minutes she came back with other papers and said, “You know you are adopted don’t you?” I said, “No, but will that keep me from getting a card.” She said, “No.”  Next, I filled out the forms and went home.

As you might imagine when I got home I said to my mom, “Why didn’t you tell me I was adopted?” She said simply, “I was going to later, but now you know.” That was all she ever said, and I didn’t ask any more questions. Then a couple of years later I met my biological father briefly and didn’t hear from him again for about forty years.

My second adoption I was fully aware of and involved fully with. I wanted to be adopted this time. That is right; I am talking about the fact that God adopted me. Of course, it was on His terms, and that was fine with me. Note with me how easy He has made it by looking at just a few Bible verses.

            John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

            Romans 8:15, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

            II Cor. 6:18, In this passage, Paul quotes from the Old Testament stating this, “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

            Gal. 4:5, “So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

The process begins with the belief that Jesus is the Son of God. Then based on that belief, you are baptized, having repented and confessed Jesus as Lord.

From that point on we live our life as, He, our Father directs us through His Word. He has given us information to guide us in all areas of living a life of faith and service. In II Peter1:4-5 it is stated this way, “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

      So, as His children let us live in faith and service to Him.

Dick Brant