Adoption Part 2

Changlais and Schneider, hurry up and come home so we can play.

We were visiting a church this past Sunday and they had a visiting pastor. He is involved with a children's ministry that gives them opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have. (something like that, I didn't hear all of the details) Anyway what I heard that got my attention, was when he said that he had been asked to be involved with a prison ministry and he said that he felt like that was not his thing but the children ministry was. When I think about adoption, I think there are Christians that say the same thing. For example "So and so adopted and I think that is wonderful, but that is not our calling". I say that just as Matthew 28:18-20 (the Great Commission) is for all believers, so is James 1:27. I'm not saying that all believers should adopt (wouldn't that be nice), but I am saying that all believers should be involved with caring for orphans and widows. When you get involved and are exposed to what an orphan goes through, physically as well as mentally, how can you not be swept away with compassion and passion and love.

Adoption

The next Food Network show. Cooking with Izza.

Romans 8:15 NASB For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as son's by which we cry out "Abba Father".
Slavery? What does that mean? It means before we knew Christ we were slaves to this world (where Satan rules), but now we have a new Father. Romans 8:15 is saying that you are not a slave but a son, an adopted son. As believers of Christ, we are all adopted, but if you do not know Christ you are a slave to this world.
If we are adopted, then why wouldn't we be passionate about the subject. Now read James 1:27. "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world". If you are not called to adopt an orphan as your own child, than you are at the very least called to care for them. Please ask God how you may do that and follow through. Many of the people who read this blog already understand and do what I am talking about. For the ones that haven't looked at adoption this way please consider and open your hearts to what God's word says.

Searching

How I have beautiful children, I'll never know. My fellow movie quoter on the left, and my karate sparring partner on the right.

Do you remember the story of Zaccheus from when you were young? I do, but recently discovered that as an adult (some people may disagree with the adult part) this passage has a great message. Luke 19:1-10 (NASB) He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus, he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." 9 And Jesus said to him "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham." 10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost". This man was disliked, an outcast by choice of profession, probably had zero friends but was wealthy. We all have an empty hole the size of the Grand Canyon that we try to fill, but never seem to be able to. Zaccheus was obviously searching for something but probably even he didn't know what. Guess What? He found it up in a Sycamore tree. What did he find you might ask? He found Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor and much more. He changed drastically in a blink of an eye. To believers this should sound familiar and bring back memories of our own conversion. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. In verse 9 Jesus said "Today salvation has come to this house". If Jesus has not said that about you, then it is time. Do you want to continue to be miserable with an empty hole that is impossible to fill or do you want to have peace with the Prince of Peace? Receive Him with open arms when He Say's "your name, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."