😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. Last Saturday I was at a Cursillo School of Leaders event and heard something that shed some light and a new meaning on what Paul was speaking of to the Galatians. A large majority of the time, we read the Bible with our current understanding of the words, which can make it a challenge to understand what is really being spoken to us and for us.
The word that was discussed was adoption. I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert on adoption, so please excuse my very basic definition. As we think about adoption today, it is legally bringing a child into your family, not knowing what they are really like, to love and care for that child, as your own, and to teach, guide, and prepare them for life and adulthood.
Adoption in Biblical Roman times was more about a wealthy man choosing a younger man, not a child, to be his son, so that he could have an heir. It wasn’t about providing a family and home for an orphan, but about choosing someone with the skills, talents, and mentality you desire to inherit your wealth and continue your legacy.
Here is what I found interesting. In those days, a natural born child could be disowned for any reason. If you didn’t like how they looked; the way they spoke; their mental stability; their physical health; if they racked up a lot of debt, and so on, you could disown them. But, as an adopted child, you could not be disowned.
Galatians 4:4-7, ‘…God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.’
Think about it. That is powerful. In that moment God said, I know who you are. I know what you’re like. I know all the good and bad about you. I know that sometimes you will love Me, hold Me close, and please Me. I also know that you will disown Me, curse My name, and hurt Me. But I still choose you! I will not disown or forsake you. My inheritance awaits you.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. That’s all there is. God, Father, Spirit, Jesus, is unconditional love, for YOU.
Bless others and be blessed.
Shelly :0)
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#MattRedman ft. Matt Maher – Unconditional
Third Day Devotions 