This weekend I celebrated my birthday. In other words I and those around me celebrated me!! I was the recipient of many a lovely gift and card, not to mention receiving little blessings across the day – a takeout coffee from my favourite café delivered to me by my kind husband, cake from my colleagues at work. You have to love birthdays!
The day I was born those few (?!) years ago heralded my arrival not only into the world but also my belonging to my family, to my parents and grandparents. The best birthday celebrations therefore remain for me those celebrated with family. But if I can liken myself to the Queen for just a moment (I promise!), I am not just restricted to one birthday a year, but two. While my birthday heralded my belonging to my earthly family – daughter to a father and mother, sister, granddaughter, I also belong to another family. That moment that as a child I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I was adopted into God’s family, I became a daughter of God. I don’t quite remember the actual date that it happened, although I do remember the camp, the room where it happened and randomly the china penguin pencil sharpener that I was given at the camp.
Unlike my birthday which gets celebrated once a year, my adoption into God’s family is an eternal, everlasting celebration! My adoption into God’s family I celebrate every time I come before God in worship and in prayer. Every time I enter into God’s presence I am aware of the magnitude of what it means for be a daughter of God. I am aware too of the magnitude of sacrifice that it took for my adoption.
Quite amazing really! And definitely something to celebrate!
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5)
“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ” (Galatians 4:6)
Blue Skies & Lollipops 