Why do people choose to adopt a child? Probably the most common reason is that a couple finds they can’t have one of their own, so adoption becomes the sole means by which they can have the joy of parenting. Others adopt children because they want to provide a safe and loving environment for little ones who do not have a home. Why would someone choose to adopt a child with special needs or disabilities?” Why would they open up their hearts to a little one who will never be able to do the things that a normal child might do and will probably end up costing them a great deal of time and energy for their entire lifetime? Is it a great capacity to love and care for a single human being that ultimately is the reason that they are willing to make a permanent space in their hearts and home for an unloved or needy child?
The Good News that Paul shares with these believers is that God, from the beginning of time, had a plan in place to adopt as His children all those would by faith come to Him. In fact, He promised to Abraham that not only the Jews, but that all nations would someday be blessed through him and his descendants. As it says in Galatians 4, “When the right time came, God sent His Son . . . to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children . . . and His heirs.” Why would God want to adopt a disabled, needy and sinful person into His family? Over and over again, the Bible tells us that it was because of His great love for us. Love so great that He reached down to us to make us a new creation through His Spirit so that we could become His heirs and live in His presence now and throughout eternity.
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3: 19 – NLT) It’s Paul’s prayer for the people that he loved. May it be my prayer and yours, as well.
