Daily Thoughts about God Posts

Published October 23, 2009

God’s Mission: Adoption

by Max Lucado
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When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Here is how it happens. You come before the judgment seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of his justice he cannot dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, he punished himself on the cross for your sins. God’s justice and love are equally honored. And you, God’s creation, are forgiven. But the story doesn’t end with God’s forgiveness.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God.â€? (Romans 8:15–16, NASB).

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons “(Galatians 4:4–5, NASB).

It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the Great House of God.

Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. I certainly don’t mean to offend any biological parents – I’m one myself. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact, sometimes the child came with no decision. I’ve heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I’ve never heard of an unplanned adoption.

That’s why adoptive parents understand God’s passion to adopt us. They know what it means to feel an empty space inside. They know what it means to hunt, to set out on a mission, and take responsibility for a child with a spotted past and a dubious future. If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us.

God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home.

Question: How does God show you that you are part of His adopted family?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/10/23/ml_adoption/

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Max Lucado
From: The Great House of God
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1997)
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://www.maxlucado.com/about/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men

Published October 22, 2009

Heavenly Investments

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.â€?
Matthew 19:21-22

An initial shareholder with 100 shares (worth $1650) at the time of Wal-Mart’s 1970 IPO would now, after 11 stock splits, possess 204,800 shares worth $10.5 million! This 6330-fold increase over four decades represents an annualized return exceeding 25%!

Christians should make wise investments and strive to make the resources God has entrusted to them grow, but the key question is our investment goal…… to serve God or serve ourselves. The Bible very clearly gives us guides for investing. Jesus teaches us to
take responsibility for providing for our own needs, but at the same time, learning to trust God for all our financial and material needs.

Worrying over our finances is futile, sinful and dishonoring to our Heavenly Father. God expects Christians, those in His Kingdom, to devote their time, talent and resources to the furtherance of His Kingdom; not legalistically nor by compulsion, but in response to God’s grace poured out on us.

There is no sin in saving and investing some of our income for the future. God does not require that we spend every cent we earn. At the same time, we are encouraged not to worry. God knows our needs and He promises to supply each one.

Be prudent and prepare for your future, but leave the future to God who provides for birds and cares for the wild flowers of the field. So, don’t be concerned to the point of worry. Leave those concerns with God and devote yourself to His concern, seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Though we live in a material world and have need for money and the things money can give us, we Christians are not to be so wrapped up in material things that they become everything to us. Beware of being snared by advertisements and the “I’ve just got to have it� mentality. Jesus tells us that the world craves money and the things money can buy and so much of what we buy is physically and spiritually unprofitable. Much of it tends to be a liability to us rather than an asset. When our toys control us, we have too many toys.

Can you relax and trust God? Can you trust God for your future care? Can you be satisfied with what you have?  The Bible needs to be your prime financial guide, as it contains four times as many references to money as it does to prayer. Be sure to invest by the Book and you will receive incredible returns on your investments…. even more than on a Wal-Mart IPO. God calls us to be generous givers.
(a thought on life from John Grant)

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/10/22/jg_investments/

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men