Child of God

In the past few weeks, I have been extremely overwhelmed with the plight of orphans world-wide. I have been reading a lot of adoption blogs that have shown child after child that are aging out of the system, somewhere. If you've read any statistics at all, concerning orphans, you know that their odds of having a productive life after leaving these orphanages are very, very slim! Knowing these statistics and seeing the beautiful faces of so many children without families, it is very easy to become depressed. This morning, however, a verse from my Dad's sermon hit me like a ton of bricks. I've heard it a hundred times, but this morning it hit me in a completely new way.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John 1:12-13

The fact is that not all of the orphans in this world will be adopted by a "forever family", but they can be adopted by the Father. These children have been neglected by those who gave birth to them, not chosen by someone who wants to adopt them, but if they believe in His name, they will become children of God. What greater family is there to be a part of than God's family? In light of this, it makes the Great Commission seem even "greater" (if that's possible)!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

These children do have a great need to find a "forever family", but they have a greater need for a Savior! May we be deliberate in spreading the gospel to these sweet children that society has deemed unwanted. May we show them that they are WANTED by a Father that loves them more than any human can or will.

"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." John 3:16

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matthew 19:14

I will continue to fight and try to help orphans find their "forever families". I want to fight harder though to make sure they know their Heavenly Father, first!