We Are Adopted By A Good, Good, Father
Written by Jason Denny
‘For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’ Romans 8: 14-17
When God saved me, I was 19 and it was dramatic. I was relieved, elated and overjoyed. I had a new purpose and initially had many prayers answered very quickly. This was prior to the trials that we must face as part of the refining process when the dross and dirt debris needs to rise to the top and be visible and then dealt with as gold is refined.
Until I properly investigated Romans 8:15-18 and understood what adoption really meant, I lived in fear and was performance driven; based on my own talents and energies and what I saw as God given ability and resilience. It was only later that I realised that fear and anxiety arose from my wish to try and deal with things in my own strength. The reality is I'd got stuck at the crucifixion and I hadn't moved to the resurrected life in the Spirit which brings the power in peace. The resurrection is more than a future hope but the beginning of the future now. That God loved me because he was good and not because I was good.
Our perception of God as a father who loves unconditionally is coloured by our experience of being fathered. My real father rejected me before I was born and then my adopted father rejected me at 16 which was more hurtful as this rejection was from someone who knew me. I assumed that when I was born again that this was all dealt with and of course at one level it is. We are told in this passage that as God’s children, we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ – safe and secure without fear of further rejection.
Our relationship with God is not intended to be transactional or contractual as is so often the case in our working or private lives. We can approach our Father in confidence not based on whether we feel we are good enough but because he is a good, good Father.
We know the spiritual folly of being performance driven such as the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal son in Luke 15. We need to know how much God loves us and the joy he gets from our rebirth. God has bought us at a price (1 Cor 6:20) and has an individual mission for us made possible by the Spirit’s power, not our own strength. We're not orphans. We can call God our Father. ‘Abba Father’ literally means Papa which indicates tenderness and intimacy.
Finally, consider the scenario of a child coming home from school and demanding its expected treat from its father before it runs off to play. Only this time the father keeps the child waiting because he wants to spend time with him. God values our time, so my question is are we invested in this relationship? So that it’s not just transactional? Will you set aside more time today for your Father than you scheduled?
"But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works”. Psalm 73:28.
This song puts it beautifully: