Almost 18 years ago, we brought our first son into our family. He was born to a young woman in challenging circumstances, and he needed a home.  Although we were happy to take him in, we wanted it to be permanent. Adoption papers had to be signed, and we knew there would be a cost. That process took almost a year. Finally, the price was paid, the papers came, and our son was ours. No one could take him away from us.

The process of adoption can be costly, emotionally and financially.  Feelings of fear that you won’t get to keep the baby are always present until the papers are signed. After the papers are signed, the birth mother still has ten days to change her mind, so you are still holding your breath. Putting up emotional barriers as a defense mechanism is not uncommon. It’s hard to tell people what is going on, and it is exhausting. “Whose baby is that?” Well, I hope he will be ours, but I don’t know yet, and I don’t know when I will know.  That is not an easy conversation to have multiple times a day in a small town.

Financially, adoption can be very expensive; thousands of dollars are involved. Thankfully, our first was a private adoption, a fourth of the cost of an agency adoption. We had to hire a lawyer to do all the paperwork, and we had to make some trips to Knoxville and Nashville. All of this took place while not knowing if we would get to keep this precious baby.  Our commitment was made, and a price was paid without knowing the outcome.

Adopting in the natural realm has a cost, so adoption in the spiritual realm has a cost. Contrary to some belief, we are not all born children of God. All people are made in the image of God, but not His children. Our sin keeps us separated from God and unable to fellowship with Him. Ephesians 2:2-3 says: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. We were children of wrath, not children of God, because of our sin. Thankfully, God sent His only son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins. Talk about a cost! Jesus committed to go to Calvary, and He paid the price.

Jesus gave his life so we could have forgiveness of our sins and be adopted into the family of God. Romans 8:15b says, “ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” When we repent of our sins and trust Christ as our Savior, we are adopted into the family of God. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17a). And once we are adopted, we can never be taken away from Him. You may never adopt a child, but everyone needs to be adopted. Please take a moment and think about it today. The cost of adoption is high, but it has already been paid.