Adoption: A Glimpse into the Heart of God By Ruth L. Snyder

Adoption: A Glimpse into the Heart of God

By Ruth L. Snyder

Have you ever noticed how certain passages of Scripture come alive in a new way because of what you’re experiencing in your personal life? This morning in our family Bible reading, my husband read from Galatians:

“Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith,[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[k] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[l] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[m] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 3:23-4:7 NIV)

I’ve read this passage many times before. I knew that I was a prisoner to sin, that the law showed me my need of a Saviour, etc. However, I had never stopped to think about the rights and privileges God granted me when he ADOPTED me into His family.
My husband and I have had the privilege of adopting five children. They came to us at different ages, through various circumstances, with unique needs. However, before we adopted them, they were all orphans. They had no one who was committed to caring for them for life. When we adopted them, they gained a permanent home, love, hope for the future, committed advocates, an inheritance, and a family name.

Adoption is a beautiful glimpse into the heart of God. He loved us so much, that He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. When we accept His free gift of salvation (adoption), He provides His presence every day, an eternal home in heaven, perfect love, incredible hope, an advocate (the Holy Spirit), an inheritance out of this world, and an amazing family (the Church).
I’m thankful for this glimpse into the heart of God. What new insights have you had from Scripture lately? I’d love to hear about them.

Ruth L. Snyder was privileged to spend the first 10 years of her life in southern Africa where her parents served as missionaries. From there her family moved to Canada, settling in Three Hills, Alberta. Ruth enjoyed her years as a "staff kid" at Prairie and is grateful for the biblical grounding she received there. She now resides close to Glendon (the pyrogy capital of Alberta, Canada) with her husband and five young children. Ruth enjoys writing articles, devotionals, short stories, and Christian fiction. She is a member of The Word Guild and The Christian PEN. Ruth currently serves as the President of InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship.


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