This week we began a new series called Ephesians and over the next several weeks we will be taking an inside look into this amazing book in the bible. The goal is to learn more about what God has to say to us, about who He is and our relationship to Him. So be sure to join us… there will be some surprises along the way that you won’t want to miss!

On Sunday, one of the big ideas we looked at was adoption. Of course when we think about adoption we think about it in human terms, right? A couple adopting a child, for instance. What an amazing thing it is to be chosen, to be adopted into a family?

When my parents came from India, they didn’t know a soul in Canada. Their biological families lived thousands of miles away in a time when a telegram was the quickest form of communication. If you don’t know what a telegram is, google it ;)

When I was 6 or 7 years old — after my parents separated — a sweet elderly couple ‘adopted’ my mother as one of their own. They loved her, and cared for her. They helped her in so many ways and they wanted nothing in return. They had become her Canadian parents and by extension I had adopted grandparents who showed me such love and care.

Certainly it was different than a legal adoption of a child, but for me at that time, it was no different. I would visit them after school and they always welcomed me with cookies and juice. We played card games together and they always showed interest in what I made in school. (I made some awesome stuff, by the way!) I knew they were my ‘white’ grandparents when they showed such pride in my straight ‘A’ report card. (Okay, I didn’t get an ‘A’ in phys ed, but we decided that didn’t matter).

That sense of being a part is only a glimpse of what it is like with God.

Not only has God forgiven us, justified us, and given us free access into His presence, but He has also adopted us into His family. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4-5,

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship (and daughter-ship) through Jesus Christ…

I stand in awe of a God who has the power and desire to forgive me. But by adopting us, God is going further. He is saying, "Don't just stand there in awe of me. Come close to me." Adoption speaks of a close relationship. And God says, "I want you as my daughter. I want you as my son”.

You are part of the family of God forever, because of your faith in Christ Jesus.

Pretty cool eh?

I can’t wait to jump into Chapter 2 of Ephesians this week. Plan to be with us and don’t forget to invite a friend!