ADOPTED

Dr. Richard J. Henderson June 11, 2006

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Psalm 29 (responsively)
Romans 8:12-17

Introduction

The family was waiting, excited for the plane to arrive. The mother and father had flown to Romania to receive their child and bring her home with them. She was a toddler whose mother and father died, and she had been staying in an orphanage. Now she would be coming to a new home in a new country.

Waiting at the airport were both sets of grandparents and a couple of close friends - who insisted that they be allowed to come. The gathering at the airport was intentionally small. They didn't want to frighten the child who would already be dealing with major changes.

The parents walked through the gate gently holding their new child. She sucked on her pacifier as those waiting hugged and cried tears of joy. A whole new life was beginning, not only for Natalie, the little girl, but for her new parents as well. Life suddenly was so much better.

I

Paul writes that we have not received a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but a spirit of adoption. God takes us in and we don't have to be afraid anymore. Because we are adopted by God we aren't afraid, but know we have a secure home.

We talked last week about being led by the Spirit of God. Paul writes that everyone who is led by the Spirit of God is a child of God. If we are children in the household of God, we aren't afraid. Whatever may happen in the meantime, our home is secure.

II

We are the children of God. Paul says that every time we cry out, "Abba," - father - that is God's spirit resonating with our spirits that we are God's children. The word "Abba" is not just a rock group from the 70's; it is a Greek word that is a very intimate word for father. The equivalent today would be "Daddy."

We now live in a place where we can call out "Daddy" because we have a home of love and acceptance - a place where our parents love us unconditionally. The Bible says here that we are adopted children living freely in the warmth of God's house. That doesn't mean that nothing bad will ever happen to us, but it does mean that whatever happens, our God will be with us.

God brought us from no life to life.

III

We found Rocksie, our dog, while we were camping in southern Ohio. My father grew up on a farm there and the property is still in the family. We all gather there every Fourth of July to enjoy the wilderness and be together.

Eleven years ago, when we went for that gathering, we had just lost our chocolate lab, Coco, whom we had for ten years. Coco was the dog our kids grew up with so it wasn't easy getting over her loss.

One night around the campfire my younger brother told me about a cute little dog he had seen out by the gravel road. "You need a dog, and this poor little thing looks like it is about to die of starvation. Somebody must have brought him out here in the middle of nowhere and thrown him out to get rid of him. I think the poor thing is staying alive by eating bugs and weeds. You should take him home."

I said thanks, but we weren't really ready for another dog yet.

"You should at least go look at her. She has the most unusual eyes."

I said "no" for another day or so. Then one evening after dinner, my brother started in again: "Why don't you at least take a look at the dog. What can that hurt?" I looked at our daughter Jennifer, and she nodded. So we got on the four- wheeler and drove out to the road. We went down to the place where Tom said she was, but no one was there. We drove on down over a little hill and then turned around to go back. Just as we came to the top of the hill, there was the dog standing right in the middle of the road. When we pulled up; she ran to the side of the road and stood there.

Jennifer got off the four-wheeler and just knelt down beside her, waiting to see what the dog would do. She ran from the side of the road and jumped into Jennifer's arms and began to lick her face.

The rest is history as they say!

We began feeding her at camp and trying to pick the ticks off her - she was covered with them, some as big as a pea. When we left and came home we took her to the vet and he took off lots more ticks. He gave her all her shots and checked her for worms and fleas. I guess there are nine kinds of worms dogs generally get; Rocksie had eight of them.

My estimate is that she was a week to ten days away from starving to death out there. You could see every rib in her side. If you've seen her lately you know she has gained weight and is healthy and happy.

I have often thought that Rocksie is a parable for the way God adopts us and gives us life.

Amen

©Richard J. Henderson 2006