God has been teaching me a lot lately about rejoicing not only in what we’ve been saved out of but also what we’ve been saved into. While reading through Ephesians in preparation for my sermon, I came across a verse that teaches us an amazing truth regarding what we’ve been saved into: Ephesians 1:5. Paul describes how God “predestined us for adoption as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ.”

Do you know why that brings me such joy? Because God didn’t just bless me from a distance.

Theoretically, he could have. He could have just wiped away the guilt of my sin and saved me from hell, and that could have been the end of it. And in fact, that itself would be a heck of a lot more than I deserved. However, God did so much more.

Becky and I recently attended an adoption seminar a few weeks ago, and they were explaining the multi-year process of adopting a child and how an international adoption can cost anywhere between $30,000-$50,000. And it really got me thinking about what a huge commitment that is.

It’s one thing to pray for the orphans in the world or even volunteer to sponsor one of them on a monthly basis so they can be fed and educated and everything else. Those are very nice and commendable things to do. And that’s probably all that God’s calling many people to do.

However, it’s another thing entirely to actually adopt one or two of them into your family. That takes things to a whole new level. We’re talking about a different kind of commitment that’s required. We’re no longer blessing orphans from a distance; we’re adopting them into our family.

And that’s exactly what God has done for us. We’re in his family, we’re known by his name, and we’re loved and totally accepted. Praise God that salvation is so much more than forgiveness!