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Last week we celebrated the 10th anniversary of when my wife and I first met our two children. It was a lovely day so we drove to Steveston. There we enjoyed a typical English dinner – fish and chips. Afterwards, we walked to an ice cream store and enjoyed our favourite ice cream flavours.

As I think about the events and circumstances that led to the adoption of our two children, the Lord reminds me of his love and acceptance of us. Romans 8:14-17 say

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

These verses tell us how great a privilege we have been given by the Lord. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, by faith, we have been brought into his family. And now, our identity is in Christ. Even more, God has placed his very self in us – this is the Holy Spirit. As a result, each of us has been given the full legal standing of a child of God. This is what “adoption to sonship” means. And it’s given to us regardless of whether we are male or female – something unknown in the ancient world where only males received this.

The verses then say that because we are in God’s family, we have the full rights of inheritance on the same level as Christ. Imagine, we are given the same privileges as Jesus Christ. This is not only remarkable, it’s unimaginable and it’s pure grace!

We ate fish and chips, we savoured ice cream – as a family! And only because God brought us together. How much greater is the love God has that brings you and me into his family.

So, no matter what you face, how you are, and what lies ahead, because of Christ and faith in him, you have been adopted into God’s family. Hallelujah!

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

上周，我們慶祝了我和妻子第一次見到我們兩個孩子的 10 周年紀念日。那天天氣晴朗，所以我們開車去了Steveston。我們享用了一頓典型的英式晚餐—炸魚和薯條。之後，我們走到一家冰淇淋店，享受了我們最喜歡口味的冰淇淋。

當我想到收養兩個孩子的事情和情況時，主提醒我他對我們的愛和接納。聖經有多處說到收養。羅馬書 8：14-17 說:

因為凡被　神的靈引導的、都是　神的兒子。你們所受的不是奴僕的心、仍舊害怕．所受的乃是兒子的心、因此我們呼叫阿爸、父。聖靈與我們的心同證我們是　神的兒女．既是兒女、便是後嗣、就是　神的後嗣、和基督同作後嗣．如果我們和他一同受苦、也必和他一同得榮耀。

這幾節經文告訴我們，主賜予我們多麼大的特權。藉著基督的死和復活，憑著信心，我們已被帶入祂的家裡。現在，我們的身份是在基督裡。更重要的是，上帝已經將他自己放在我們裡面—這就是聖靈。因此，我們每個人都被賦予了神兒女的完全法律地位。這就是收養轉兒子的意思。無論我們是男或女，都賜給我們—這在只有男性才能接受的古代世界是不知道的。

經文接著說，因為我們是在神的家裡，所以我們和基督一樣有完全的繼承權。想像一下，我們被賦予了與耶穌基督相同的特權。這不僅了不起，而且難以想像，這是純粹的恩典！

我們吃了炸魚和薯條，品嘗了冰淇淋—全家一起！是因為上帝讓我們一起。神的愛是多麼偉大，使你和我進入他的家。

所以，無論你面對什麼，你現在如何，前面會發生什麼事，因為基督和對他的信心，你已經被接納進入上帝的家庭。哈利路亞！

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum