“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5
This year, as we sat amidst stacks of unwrapped gifts, talking and laughing with family, my mind couldn’t help but wander to the hope of next Christmas. Will a baby be in the midst next year? Will our Christmas-morning waffle bar feature a high chair or a sleeping newborn? Or will we still be waiting and hoping for the day we will become parents?
Daydreaming about how and when we’ll be matched and placed with our little one has become a frequent pass-time in our home. The holiday season has increased the daydreaming as we spend time with our families who are anxiously awaiting the day they become aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas. But Christmas, more so than other seasons, calls my mind to the beauty and importance of adoption.
Adoption is at the very center of the Christmas story. God’s intention in sending his Son to be born as a baby was our ultimate redemption and adoption into His family (Galatians 4:4-5). Christ himself was brought into a family through adoption, an adoption that was critical to solidify His identity as Messiah. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, shared no genetic code with his son. Though Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and no trace of Joseph’s DNA could be found in Jesus’ veins, Joseph was and is considered to be Jesus’ father (Luke 2:41, 48). And praise God for that! If adoption were not a “legitimate” means of bringing someone into a family, Jesus would not be considered the Christ! It was from Joseph’s family line, the house and line of David (Luke 2:4), that the Messiah was expected to come. While His identity as King of Kings and Lord of Lords was granted to Him by His Heavenly Father, His identity as Messiah and Son of Man came to Him by adoption into Joseph’s family. As a Christian, my adoption into God’s family was made possible by God’s intentional adoption plan for His own son.
This is the BEAUTIFUL truth that fuels our passion and hope to become parents through adoption. While I’m dreaming about building snowmen, reading Christmas stories, and unwrapping gifts with our child one day, I long most to share this truth with our little one. We pray fervently that their adoption story will help them understand the importance of Christ’s adoption and eventually lead to their ultimate adoption as a son or daughter of God!
May this truth encourage your heart and stir your affections for Jesus this Christmas! No matter how adoption plays into your day-to-day life, we hope today is a wonderful day of celebrating God’s intentional adoption plan for His son and His creation. Merry Christmas!
Adopting First 