Come to Them

Gen 1:27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

A few years ago this verse really struck me. I began to wonder if I am made in God's image then to truly know who I am supposed to be I need to know who God is. Some of these answers are fairly simple.

1 John 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Psalm 116:5 How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!

From these two verses it is clear that God is love, he is kind and he is merciful. I can surely strive to be these things although at times it can be a great deal of work. As I continue to ponder what it means to be in God's image new questions arise. As most of you know adoption is very near and dear to my heart. This week I have really been thinking about what that means in my Christian walk. We have clear examples that God has blessed people through adoptions. There is the example of Moses who's life was spared when his mother put him in a basket and sent him down the river. Ex 2:10 says, Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, "I lifted him out of the water." In Ex 2:7 we see that Esther was also adopted. We read, This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter. Then we read Romans 8:15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."

We have a clear example that God values adoption. If we are made in his image and he himself is an adoptive parent what does that mean for us? Let's now take a look at Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Jesus says in John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you.

If Jesus will not abandon us as orphans, what does that mean for us? James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Not everyone is called to adopt but we have all been called to help. I love the relationship side of the verse John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you.

How can you help? There is always adoption, foster care, fundraising, volunteering time or resources and so much more. We just need to start getting involved and when I say involved I mean "do not abandon them as orphans--Come to them". There is no greater blessing than to be intimately involved with your whole heart. You choose. What are you willing to give of yourself?