Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Today, in our God’s Vision for the church series, we consider that an adopted family is God’s vision for the church
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‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 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 through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.’ (Ephesians 1:3-6)
What is our vision for the church - how do we believe she should be? Through this ‘God’s vision for the church series’, we are exploring various aspects, and today, and this week, our devotions will focus on how the church is God’s family.
Terry Virgo, in his book, The Spirit-Filled Church, speaks of his experience of lacking true friendship and family when he joined the church:
‘When I was converted I lost all my friends. As teenagers we had grown up together. We enjoyed marvellous experiences and our friendship was very real. Late into the night we would talk about our innermost hopes and fears. It broke my heart when none of them wanted to come with me into my new-found Christian life. I often wept for them in prayer. After a while, I began to weep for myself. I was so lonely. It was wonderful to know my sins were forgiven and that I was going to heaven, but life was miserable in the here and now. On Sundays I was inspired by the minister's wonderful preaching, but I was lost in the crowd and nobody seemed to notice me. Gradually, as time slipped by, I grew in experience and found that this was true for so many. Formal acquaintance seemed to be the standard in the church. People who had known one another for years were still on handshake and surname terms. Real friendship such as I had grown up with and so valued was almost entirely missing. After a couple of years I was received into membership and received "the right hand of fellowship". But nothing changed.’
God’s vision for the church is surely that we experience deep and loving friendships. The church, too often, is seen as a building and services where we whisper if we say anything at all! At the other extreme, church is seen as fun and inspiring gatherings that serve our needs. However, what does it mean to be God’s family?
The church is God’s adopted family
It’s vital that we understand that we, along with all Christians, have been adopted into God’s family. Our reading today tells us, ‘In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…’ God has not only ‘chosen us’, He has also adopted us! And this, ‘in accordance with his pleasure and will’! One of the vital truths that God wants us to understand and rejoice in, is our adoption by God. Clinton E. Arnold writes of adoption:
‘The term for adoption (υἱοθεσία) is common in Greek and Roman law, but… there are no laws or teaching in the OT governing the practice of adoption. Consequently, the readers would necessarily think of the legal practice of adoption as practiced under the prevailing Roman societal structure. Under Roman law, an adopted child acquired all of the legal rights of a natural-born child and was released from the control of his natural father. The child also received the adopting parent’s family name and a share in the status of the new family.’ (Ephesians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on The New Testament)
We see that adoption is not the same as regeneration or being ‘born again’. Adoption is a legal idea. It’s not about a change in our nature but a change in our legal standing with God - God is now our Father. We share His name. We will inherit from Him. To reinforce this idea of adoption, we read in Ephesians 2:
‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household…’ (Ephesians 2:19)
Do you see the progression in this verse? Through the gospel, it’s wonderful to be a part of God’s nation and kingdom. However, He takes us further in. We are not just citizens, we are in the ‘household’!
Response
An adopted family is God’s vision for the church. To be a part of the church one must be adopted by God. Every Christian has been chosen and adopted our Father. This has ramifications for all areas of life doesn’t it. As we finish, let’s reflect on these words from 1 John:
‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (1 John 3:1)
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
This, for many, maybe the first time you’ve met in a while. Therefore, it might be good to catch up on how things have gone - the highs and lows - of the summer. Alternatively, you could discuss: How has God been speaking to you from His Word recently and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday from our God’s Vision for the Church series was on how the church is God’s family. The church - The community who follow Christ - are adopted children of God and are to reflect this in their love for God, joy in life and love for the family of God.
Please read Ephesians 1:3-6 and discuss:
What would you say is the main message and application of Ephesians 1:3-6?
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What does it mean for us to be adopted by God?
How is this truth to affect our relationships in the church?
How does being God’s adopted child help you in life?
How is this new identity to affect the way that we pray? (See Matthew 6:5-13)
Alex Dias, in His message, made reference to God as our potter and our entering ‘the potters house (Jeremiah 18). How does our being God’s adopted children, along with this potter analogy, mean for how God wants to work in and on us?
SIV - How will enjoying your adoption make you a more compassionate and courageous evangelist?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together from Romans 8:15-17.
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