Psalm 127 tells us “Children are a blessing from God”. Yet, for some, the prospect of children is not welcome and they are either to be suffered or aborted. How sad, that which is intended as a blessing is seen as a curse by some, while others who desperately wish to have a child are unable to have one of their own despite trying all kinds of treatments.

But for those who have missed the blessing of having their own children, I believe adoption is just the same as being a true born child in God’s eyes. There is no stigma because, in faith, we are all adopted.

In Matthew chapter 1 it lists the ancestry of Christ, but what is most striking is that it is in fact the ancestry of Joseph who was not Jesus ‘ natural father. Included in the list are good men as well as some awful men who committed the most appalling crimes. But interestingly, there are only four women mentioned in the list, each with something of a slur against their reputation in one way or another.

There is Tamar who had a child by her father-in-law, Judah. Then there is Rahab who is probably the prostitute from Jericho. Ruth is next, who slept at the feet of Boaz which was not appropriate behaviour. Then Mary who was found with child before marriage.

I believe this deliberate list is there to show us that Christ descended from all humanity, something he has in common with us all as most of us don’t know what our distant ancestors did. The point is that Jesus was happy to be accepted as a Son of Joseph, he was happy to accept the ancestral history and align himself with all humanity, and he was happy to be adopted!

This shows us that, as far as God is concerned, adoption is the same as being a genetically natural child. And if you think about it, both Moses and Esther were adopted too.

Ephesians 1:5 says “he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Christ Jesus”. And Romans 8:15 says “the Spirit you received brought about adoption to sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father”.

When we accept Christ, we are adopted by the spirit into God’s family. Jesus even taught us to pray “Our Father”, something we can only really do if He is. We also use the term “Born Again” because with God, adoption is the same as being a true born child.