Wednesday prayer & verses (27 01 2010)

Thought for the day

I heard about a couple who had four children whom they had adopted, ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 5 years old. When they were expecting a fifth child by birth, the children were naturally full of questions. Will it be a boy or a girl? What color will this child be? What country will it come from? How old will it be? Will we meet it at the airport?

The parents tried to explain that this child would be born into the family, not adopted. The 5-year-old child said, "Oh, I get it. It's like a bubble gum machine. You just have to take what comes out."

I knew a fellow who was adopted when he was a baby. He was talking about how kids used to tease him about it when he was younger, but he learned quickly to respond by saying, "My Mom and Dad chose me. Your Mom and Dad just got stuck with you." He said it shut them up pretty quick.

There's a beauty in that concept that God, as our Father, adopted us; He chose us. And it wasn't because of how attraca­tive we were. He chose you to be His child, not because you're better than anyone else or because you're more attractive than anyone else, but because by his grace and his calling he selected you. And he invited you to respond to that calling by faith and obedience.

There are several examples of adoption in the scriptures -- Moses was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, Esther was adopted by her cousin Mordecai. But, to me, the most beautiful example was when Mephibosheth was adopted by David in 2 Samuel 9. The beauty of that particular adoption is that there was no motivation, no reason for David to do it other than out of his grace and his love. And in many ways, that adoption is similar to our adoption by God.

David took the initiative in finding Mephibosheth and bringing him to the palace. And although Mephibosheth was the son of David's closest friend, he was also the grandson of Saul, who had repeatedly tried to kill David. Perhaps most surprising of all is the fact that Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet, and was helpless to render David any significant service. And yet David brought this outcast, this reject of society, to dine at his table as his son and gave him a magnificent inheritance to which he was no longer legally entitled.

Adoption agencies will tell you that there's a big market for babies who are healthy. But for babies who are handicapped, mentally or physically, it's hard to find a family for them. I was thankful that God is not like that. None of us would stand much of a chance because we've all got handicaps of one form or anoth­er. We've all got blotches and imperfections. But the good news is that he's chosen us by grace. Just like David did with Mephibosheth, God, motivated solely by his grace and his love, seeks out unworthy men and women on his own initiative and offers us the opportunity to be his children.

"...I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters..." (2 Corinthians 6:17b-18).

Verses

Mark 11:23

you can say to this hill, 'Get up and throw yourself in the sea.' If you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you.

Deuteronomy 7:15

And the Lord will take away all your sickness and will not let you suffer any of the diseases of Egypt you remember so well; he will give them all to your enemies!

1 Peter 3:10

For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;

Acts 10:4

And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Proverbs 10:22

Of the Lord's gift comes wealth without drudgery.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the many Scriptures that reassure us we’re never alone, whether it’s during our mountain top experiences or in the valleys below. You promise that Your Spirit will never leave us nor forsake us, but You will be with us always. We are encouraged and strengthened by Your promises and Your presence. Amen.