Let them be forgiven, let them be fathered
The most amazing thing about adoption, is the giving and receiving of legacy, a name, and an inheritance. When we truly consider what it means to be adopted by our heavenly father, we must think, "Wow."
- He calls us His child, in whom He delights and sees as precious.
- We become brothers with His perfect Son.
- We receive all of the same inheritance that the perfect- Son receives, not a portion, all.
- God sees us the same as He did the perfect Son, who was willing to sacrifice all for relationship with the Father, and so that we could have relationship with the Father.
- The same power that God has, we are given.
- Everything God has is ours (we get a complete inheritance- beyond a "share").
- When we might feel betrayed, we can know that He will never betray us, and we can keep seeking Him.
- God's love, forgiveness, and provisions for us never run out, we just have to keep seeking Him.
- He allows us, wants us, to draw near to Him, to find rest in His presence, to know we belong.
Let's dig a little deeper into this, one more time. It is so crucial that we understand adoption, so that we can adopt children in a way that delights the Lord, our Heavenly Father, who gave and continues to give us everything so that we would know that we are known, loved, and blessed. Likewise, the way that we look at our brothers and sisters in Christ: our adopted siblings who have every right to the throne room of grace that is our Heavenly Father's presence, must be without offense. Further, we must acknowledge His desire for those who have gone astray, or who don't yet acknowledge Him, without jealousy, for more in the Kingdom is His delight.
When we really accept for ourselves His great love, we must be compelled to share that with others, and more generously share that with the lost. We lose nothing in sharing the generosity of God's character with others: it never runs out. In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus shares the parable of the unmerciful servant. For anyone to whom we do not show His lavish grace and mercy, we are taking the role of the unmerciful servant and we are condemning ourselves. There is no gain in holding back when we are in the family of God.
🌿 Adoption and the Heart of the Father: Receiving a Name, a Legacy, and an Inheritance
Adoption is one of the clearest pictures of the gospel. It reflects the heart of a God who takes the orphaned, the outcast, and the broken — and calls them His own. For an adopted child, receiving a name, a legacy, and an inheritance isn’t just a legal transaction. It’s a declaration of belonging, identity, and love. It’s a reflection of what God has done for each of us through Jesus Christ.
A Name — Identity and Belonging
When a child receives their new family’s name, something powerful happens. That name declares, “You belong here. You are no longer an outsider.” It’s not just written on paper; it’s written on the heart.
In Christ, we too have received a new name. Once called “lost,” “sinner,” or “stranger,” we are now called “children of God.” Our identity is no longer rooted in where we came from, but in whose we are.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” — 1 John 3:1
“You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.” — Isaiah 62:2
God’s name over us gives us worth, dignity, and permanence. We belong to Him, and nothing can separate us from that truth.
A Legacy — A Story to Stand In
Every family carries a legacy — a story, a set of values, and a heritage to pass down. When a child is adopted, they are grafted into a new story. Their past is not erased, but their future is redeemed. They now have a place in a lineage of love, hope, and faith.
Likewise, when we come to Christ, we are grafted into His story. We share in the legacy of faith that began with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We inherit the covenant promises of God, not by birth, but by adoption through Jesus.
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” — Galatians 3:29
“You who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” — Ephesians 2:13
We are no longer spiritual outsiders. We have a new family story — one that stretches from eternity past to eternity future. Our story is victory. We have a victorious legacy to carry. All the bad things that were our family's history or were once spoken over us are no more; we carry the legacy of God. The God. He has the whole world in His hands and He extends His hands to us.
An Inheritance — Security and Promise
An inheritance tells a child: “You are fully mine.” It means they have the same rights, love, and security as any other child in the family. It’s a promise of provision — a future they can count on.
As God’s adopted children, we too have received an inheritance. We are not second-tier members of His household — we are co-heirs with Christ Himself.
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” — Romans 8:16–17
“In Him we have obtained an inheritance…” — Ephesians 1:11
Our inheritance in Christ is eternal — it cannot perish, spoil, or fade. We are secure in His love forever.
“In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope… and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” — 1 Peter 1:3–4
Reflect:
Just as your adopted child may still wrestle with their old name, their old story, or the fear of losing their place, we too sometimes struggle to live fully as God’s beloved children. But God’s adoption is final. He has sealed it with His Spirit, confirmed it with His promises, and secured it through the blood of His Son.
When your child begins to understand what it means to bear your name, share your story, and receive your inheritance, they are tasting something sacred — the reflection of what God has done for all of us.
When we consider what we have done in adoption, that it pleases God, and that the floodgates are opened to us (Malachi 3:6-12), we can begin to receive with open hands. Instead of thinking the inheritance we intended to leave to 2 is now going to be spread among 4, or 6, or more (and looks like a measly inheritance for each), we will begin to see how God wants us to multiply what we have, because that's how He works, and that this too glorifies Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting us into Your family.
Thank You for giving us Your name, Your legacy, and an inheritance that never runs out.
Thank you for giving us an incredible brother in Jesus Christ, Your perfect Son.
Thank you that He came to share your heart, and to die for me, his rebelling, and prodigal sibling.
Help us to live as Your beloved children — secure, seen, and fully known.
As we love our children, may they see in us a glimpse of Your heart —the God who redeems, restores, and calls us His own.
Your child, whom You call "precious,"
Amen.
Let this truly sink in as you listen to Michael Ketterer's song. This is for you, as a brother/sister in Christ- as if Jesus is singing it. This is for the children He brings you, and it is for their biological parents as well. It is for everyone, for God created all.
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