"Adoption sounds like buying a baby to me," said one of my students this past week.
"It does sound like that, doesn't it?," I replied.
A good conversation ensued. Yes, it does sound like we're buying a child. But consider the wordage.
Jesus "paid the price for our sins." Jesus "bought us with His blood." People can use the verb "buy" in speaking about adoption, because it's used in describing God's means of adopting His children into His family. So yes, we're following Jesus' example, and paying the price required to bring our child out of danger, into our family, to become an heir, and to be loved unconditionally.
Of course, it is impossible to follow Christ's example without help from Him. We are NOT spiritually, emotionally or financially adept to adopt this child, but God is. God will give us everything we need to bring her home, because He is the one rescuing her, not us. He wants her in HIS family. We are only hoping to be instruments of his Grace.
On the same day, I was talking to an older lady about the adoption. She asked how much it would cost, and upon my reply, she said, "So they're selling babies." Yep. Kind of. We have to pay people to make sure the laws are followed. We have to pay the country, and the orphanage, and the American side of things. However corrupt the cost may or may not be, there is a cost.
Then she said, "But on the flip side, someone who is willing to pay $30,000 or more to bring a child home must be very committed." Yep, we are. That's the point.
We know the cost is outlandish.
God paid an outlandish price to bring us Home. Jesus has already paid the price for our daughter, and we're waiting to see how He will work to bring her into our family, His family, by His grace alone.
Please pray.
"You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men."
1 Corinthians 7:23
"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21
"It does sound like that, doesn't it?," I replied.
A good conversation ensued. Yes, it does sound like we're buying a child. But consider the wordage.
Jesus "paid the price for our sins." Jesus "bought us with His blood." People can use the verb "buy" in speaking about adoption, because it's used in describing God's means of adopting His children into His family. So yes, we're following Jesus' example, and paying the price required to bring our child out of danger, into our family, to become an heir, and to be loved unconditionally.
Of course, it is impossible to follow Christ's example without help from Him. We are NOT spiritually, emotionally or financially adept to adopt this child, but God is. God will give us everything we need to bring her home, because He is the one rescuing her, not us. He wants her in HIS family. We are only hoping to be instruments of his Grace.
On the same day, I was talking to an older lady about the adoption. She asked how much it would cost, and upon my reply, she said, "So they're selling babies." Yep. Kind of. We have to pay people to make sure the laws are followed. We have to pay the country, and the orphanage, and the American side of things. However corrupt the cost may or may not be, there is a cost.
Then she said, "But on the flip side, someone who is willing to pay $30,000 or more to bring a child home must be very committed." Yep, we are. That's the point.
We know the cost is outlandish.
God paid an outlandish price to bring us Home. Jesus has already paid the price for our daughter, and we're waiting to see how He will work to bring her into our family, His family, by His grace alone.
Please pray.
"You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men."
1 Corinthians 7:23
"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21
Excellent!!
ReplyDeleteSola gratia! Solo Christo!
ReplyDelete