On the Move: From Orphan to Beloved Child

Psalm 10:17 - 18

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will make Your ear attentive to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that mankind, which is of the earth, will no longer cause terror.

John 1:12

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, 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 a man, but of God.

Gina and I are privileged to have friends and family with foster children or adopted children. From my perspective, this is an amazing ministry and I am blessed by the commitment I see from these families!

Today, I am thinking about one couple specifically. Over the years they have fostered several children and to those children, they have given hope and encouragement. But now, they are facing a new challenge. They have been fostering two children, a brother and a sister, now for a lengthy period of time. And due to some serious and unfortunate decisions on the part of the birth parents, it appears that our friends fostering will move toward adoption.

Here are two children whose lives were on a trajectory toward social and spiritual bankruptcy but now, they have hope. In fact, because of these friends’ love and commitment, the chidren have a future - not only the option for a healthy future here on earth, but they have the opportunity for a spiritual future in heaven. What our friends are actually doing is moving these precious ones from one life to another. And I want you to know how deeply this encourages me!

It encourages me for a number of reasons, primarily the blessing for both our friends and these children. But there is another reason why it encourages me. It is because what they are doing is a picture of what our Heavenly Father did for us. He moved us from being fatherless, from being orphans, to being His children, His sons and daughters.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, 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 a man, but of God.” -John 1:12

When we trust Christ by faith, we receive God’s gift of salvation. And when that occurs God gives us a right, a privilege: to be called a child of God. Let that sink in for a few minutes. We are no longer orphans or fatherless; we are now sons and daughters of God Himself. God becomes our Father and we become His children.

Let’s not be confused by the idea that we have the “right” to be called the children, the sons and daughters of God. This is not a right we have earned or received because of something we accomplished. In fact, this right has nothing to do with us. This right comes for one reason, the love of God.

“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.” -I John 3:1

It is the unconditional, undeserved, and unblemished love of God that gives us the right to be His children. He moved us from being orphans, from being fatherless, to being His sons and daughters out of His love for us. In fact, this principle is best clarified in perhaps the most well-known verse of scripture.

“For God so loved the world that He gave.” It is the undeserved love of God that gives us the right to be called His children. -John 3:16

Before we close today, let me encourage you to consider something. The next time you pray, and call God, Father, stop and consider the blessing of being a son or a daughter to God, our Heavenly Father. Really consider all that is meant by the word “Father” and thank God for His fatherly love.

I want to encourage you to come back next week because there is another move God made and it is directly related to God calling us His children. We are not only children of God but also heirs of God.