ADOPTED for Life (by Russell D. Moore)

My dear mama and I are right now reading an absolutely wonderful book written by Russell D. Moore. As you've probably guessed by the title of this post, it is called "Adopted for Life." Mr. Moore is dean of the School of Theology and senior vice president for academic administration at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. (Okay, I just got that from the back of this book ;) Anyway, This book is basically about his and his wife's journey to adopt their two sons from Russia. But it's also about the Christian life. It's about how we, as Christians, are all adopted by the King of Kings. He illustrates many of the parallels between physical adoption and spiritual adoption. C.J. Mahaney, who wrote the foreword for Adopted for Life, put it well when he said in the first sentence, "I was adopted when I was eighteen years old. I wasn't an orphan, the way most people think of that term. I wasn't an abandoned child. But I was in a condition far more serious: I was a stranger to the family of God, a slave to sin, and an object of the justified wrath of God." He continues on by saying, "It would have been extraordinary enough for God simply to redeem us, to forgive our sins, to declare us righteous. But He does not stop here-- He makes us His children. Galatians 4:4-7 'But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, coming into being out of a woman, having come under Law, that He might redeem those under Law, so that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.' Christian, if you have ever wondered whether God loves you, wonder no longer. God the Father has adopted you as His son or daughter through the person and work of Christ. Here you will find the richest proof of God's personal, particular, and passionate love for you." But one of the last things he says in his forward really compels me to write this, so here it is: "I am so grateful that my friend Russell has written the book you hold in your hands. I want many more people to read this story, to be amazed at God's love displayed in the doctrine of adoption, and to consider the possibility of adopting children themselves. You may not agree with all of Russell's conclusions, but his book will challenge you to carefully consider both the doctrine of adoption and its implications for your life."

So I challenge you, as a friend and brother or sister in Christ to read this book! I haven't finished it, but I am excited to read more! Whether you have adopted, have not, or think you might some day, this book will change your perspective on adoption... both in the physical sense (i.e. orphans in China and Russia and Ethiopia) and in the spiritual sense (i.e. sinners reconciled to a holy God.)
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!!!