48. Adopted as Children of God
Romans 8:14, 15, 16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
One of the precious promises from God is that He makes us His children. This image of children of the heavenly Father and Jesus as brother resonates pleasantly with almost the entire human race throughout time. Universally, the strongest bonding and love that we see is the love of parents for their children. This is the kind of love and the strength of the love that God has for us. And in addition, we are not children of God by accident, but we are chosen children by design, plan and purpose: we are adopted.
We are literally adopted, but more than adoption is the spirit of adoption that we have received. The spirit we have received is one of deliberated purpose and choosing: we are special, a treasure, and a pearl of great price to God. That adoption includes the intimacy of love, so that we call God the Father Abba, Daddy or Papa, designating a trusting dependence on someone big and strong, and at the same time that strong Dad loves me like a Father and even a Mother. We are weak and poor, but we have Father with us.
The Father-Child relationship also clearly specifies that God has taken responsibility for us. He is responsible for our provision, to give us everything we need for life and godliness. He is responsible for our protection, to shelter and shield us from the deadly enemies who attack our life and steal our joy every day. He is even responsible for our happiness and contentment, so that we can rest securely in His loving arms in peace and comfort. Such joy and peace is the promise of adoption as children.