Read Galatians 4:3-7
3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (NLT)
Discover
1. How is life described before Christ?
2. What did God send His Son to do?
3. What new titles can we claim as a result?
Respond
All week long, we’ve talked about our call to make a difference. Today we learn a powerful reason why. When we step into serving others, especially vulnerable children, it’s because we, too, have been vulnerable and are adopted and loved.
In today’s passage, we see that adoption means we can have intimacy with God. During the time Galatians was written, adoption meant being given all legal rights and ownership that a biological child would have. Adopted children weren’t treated as second class. They were equals who had full rights and identities in their new family.
This is an incredible glimpse into how God views us. We’re no longer distant and in bondage. God has drawn us close as His very own children. This is why we serve. This is why we seek to make a difference in the lives of others.
Here’s a tangible way you can respond today:
What You Can Do
On Sunday, we learned about Missions of Hope International (MOHI) and the work they’re doing to meet the needs of vulnerable children in Kenya. If you didn’t have a chance to sponsor a child through MOHI and feel prompted to do so, you can take that step here: tpcc.org/child-sponsorship.
How You Can Pray
On this Thanksgiving Day, spend some time in gratitude, thanking God for adopting you as His own child. Pray for vulnerable kids around the world, particularly the ones being served by MOHI. Pray that their physical needs would be met, but more importantly, that they would experience heart transformation that extends to their families and communities.