Adoption is a process where non-biological parents voluntarily make a choice to accept and raise a child as their own. Once the adoption has taken place and the child legally becomes a member of the family, a sense of security and reassurance that no one can take the child away now exists. Recent popular television advertisements refer to adoption as, "The Loving Option." I strongly agree with this definition.

My brother Anthony and sister Morgi had been integral parts of our family for several years; yet, something extra special happened in 1993 on the 9th day of December. This was when the Honorable Judge Scott Johansen signed the adoption papers for Anthony and Morgi to legally become part of our family. Their adoption was now official, legal, and binding in the eyes of the courts of the land. The fear of being taken away was no longer. Yes, December 9, 1993 will forever be a date which holds special meaning for my family.

Likewise, it is when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives that we become adopted into God's family. It is through Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross that we can intimately call God, "Abba, Father," and are then joint-heirs with Christ. In Galatians 4:6-7 we read, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." We are, "King's Kids" through Jesus Christ.

God reassures us of His love, for us, in Romans 8:35; and 8:36-39 where we read, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Anthony and Morgi are in good company for the Bible not only speaks of our Spiritual adoption, but it also contains several references of children who were raised by adoptive parents. Among these were: Esther, Joseph, Moses, and Samuel. See Esther 2:7; Genesis 37:12-36, 39:1-2; Exodus 2:1-10; and
I Samuel 1:20-28, I Samuel 3:1-21.

Christ desires us all to be part of His family and to live with Him for eternity. Have you accepted Him as Lord and Savior of your life? If not, ask Him into your heart today. In 2 Peter 3:9 we read, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." And in John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we were chosen by God Himself. In Ephesians 1:4-5 we read, "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 to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." Yes, adoption is the loving option. Thank you Lord, Jesus for dying for us so that we could become members of Your family and live life eternal with You. Amen.