All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:14
AMANDA HAD NEVER met her birth father. The moment her mom told her boyfriend she was pregnant, he walked out for good.
Life with Mom was more than okay, and Amanda assumed it wasn’t part of God’s plan for her to have a father. Then Scott came along. He started dating Amanda’s mom when Amanda was twelve. Now she was fourteen, and the couple had been married for two months. Amanda loved Scott like the dad she never had. She had always thought it was too big of a wish to ask God for a father, but God had given her one. And Scott was incredible. He was kind, fun, and tight with God.
Still, a dark fear lurked in a back comer of Amanda’s brain. She worried that one day Scott would leave her too. Why wouldn’t he? Her real dad had left, and she was his child by birth. Nothing forced Scott to take any fatherly responsibility for Amanda. He could leave whenever he wanted, and she couldn’t do anything to stop him. Then one day Scott and Amanda’s mom took her out for dinner. They said it was important to them that Scott legally adopt Amanda. The thought both terrified and excited her. If he went through with it, he would be her legal father. She would finally have a real dad. But what if he backed out?
Day after day Amanda awaited news that her adoption was final and official. One day she came home from school and spotted Scott’s car in the driveway, earlier than usual. When Amanda walked in the door, Scott and Mom were waiting. Scott stood. “The adoption papers came through today, Amanda,” he said. Tears filled his eyes. “I’m your daddy now.”
Amanda dove toward him with a gigantic hug. “Thank you for choosing me,” she said through her own tears. “Thank you, thank you … Daddy.”
Scott took a one-of-a-kind step to demonstrate his love for Amanda and his desire to be her father, making their relationship official through adoption. Similarly, God finalizes and formalizes his relationship with us by adopting us as his children. Do you have an inner sense that you’re part of God’s family? That’s the quiet, reassuring voice of the Holy Spirit telling you that God has adopted you (see Romans 8:16). You don’t ever have to worry when it comes to your relationship with your heavenly Father. He will never leave you. The adoption papers have come through.
He’s your daddy .
REFLECT: How do you feel knowing that God has permanently adopted you into his family?
PRAY: Thank you for choosing me to be your child, God. Thank you for adopting me. Thank you that you will never Leave me.
