Be Grateful for Adoption

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV

In an astonishing story published earlier this week, it was reported that runner Mai Richards crossed the finish line in Sturgis after completing the Miles of Honor Run—an approximately 451.5-mile journey across South Dakota to honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Richards said she felt grateful and overwhelmed after completing the challenge, calling it a cause that has touched countless lives. She said her inspiration came from her own story—being adopted from Vietnam as a child—and a desire to give back for the freedoms she’s been given.

“I am feeling grateful. My heart is full. My feet are tired and my head is” Richards said. “I think it’s still trying to wrap around that… that I’m done. I’m done. And it’s for such a great cause. And it’s touched so many people’s lives.”

And, you know, if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, your story is also a story of adoption--an adoption story so awesome that it should fill you with an overwhelming desire to give back to Jesus Christ, the One who “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” 

You see, God determined beforehand, in eternity past, His plan of salvation for humanity. This plan not only gave eternal life to all those who chose to believe in God's one and only Son, who gave His life to free us from the consequences of sin, but granted believers full and permanent legal standing as sons and daughters in God's family.

If you think that's amazing, consider this... Our adoption in God's family is not based on our merit, but stems solely from God's sovereign love for us. God, who created all things, specifically chose before the creation of the world that you and I would be created, live, become children of God, and then one day stay with God for eternity!

So, in light of God's acceptance of us as His children, let us give back for the freedom from sin that acceptance provided by running our race for Him my friend. Let us live each and every day in a way that shows our gratitude for being adopted into the family of God that we might inspire others to seek this adoption for themselves.

Heavenly Father, thank You for bestowing such amazing love on us. To be called a son or daughter of the most high is the greatest honor we could ever have. Help us to truly understand how awesome this is Lord that we might give back our lives in service to You for the great gift we have received. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!