"Surprise! You're adopted!" If you were to hear those words from a trusted relative, surprise would be an understatement, I'm sure. Total shock would probably be more descriptive terminology for your emotional state as you examined the official court record and your original birth certificate. "Adopted" does describe each of us though, because we have been adopted by God into God's family. How do we know? The Bible tells us so.

When the Spirit of God dwells within us, we are given new birth as God's children, and new life (Romans 8:11). We are then free to greet God as Jesus did with the words, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 2:15). "Abba" means "daddy," and is a term of endearment Jesus uses for his heavenly father. We also become heirs to life eternal and the kingdom to come. There is no real g…