【双语灵修】被收养

以弗所书 1:3-6

愿颂赞归于我们主耶稣基督的父神！他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气，就如神从创立世界以前在基督里拣选了我们，使我们在他面前成为圣洁，无有瑕疵；又因爱我们，就按着自己意旨所喜悦的，预定我们藉着耶稣基督得儿子的名分，使他荣耀的恩典得着称赞。这恩典是他在爱子里所赐给我们的。

6月7日

被收养

“神……预定我们藉着耶稣基督得儿子的名分。” -弗 1:4-5

乔莉深爱女儿莎拉，但因创伤与贫困，她无力提供所需的照顾给莎拉。莎拉的父亲在狱中，在缺乏支持与资源去抚养莎拉的乔莉面临艰难的抉择。

然后，米勒夫妇出现了。他们有四个亲生子女、稳定的家和丰盛的爱。他们愿意通过收养机构成为莎拉的养父母。经过深思后，乔莉决定让米勒家收养莎拉。尽管乔莉和米勒家在交接时有些尴尬，但所有人都认同这安排对莎拉来说是最好的。

基督的追随者被纳入一个比出生家庭更大的家，莎拉便亲身经历了这一点。她知道她拥有原生家庭与收养家庭的双重爱。最近，他们在芝加哥的一家披萨店，為乔莉庆祝生日。当莎拉离开派对时，莎拉对养母说：“我很高兴妈妈没有抛弃我。她找到了你们，现在我的家更大了。”

神常以意想不到的方式扩展我们的家庭，提供超乎想象的爱与支持。我多么感恩，神从未让我们独自前行，而是以超乎想象的大家庭环绕我们。

祷告

天父，感谢你接纳我们进入你的家。求你帮助我们在信仰中接纳所有弟兄姐妹，知道因着你的爱与恩典，我们彼此联合。阿们。

Ephesians 1:3-6

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

ADOPTED

“In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. . . .” — Ephesians 1:4-5

Jorie loved her daughter, Sarah, deeply, but amid the challenges of trauma and poverty she couldn’t care for Sarah in the way that was needed. Sarah’s father was in prison. Lacking the support and tools she needed for raising Sarah, Jorie faced a tough decision.

Enter the Millers. With four biological children, a steady home, and an abundance of love, they became foster parents to Sarah through a foster/adoption agency. Later, after much thought, Jorie made the decision for Sarah to be adopted by the Millers. Although the drop-offs and pick-ups between Jorie and the Millers can sometimes be awkward, all agree that this arrangement is best for Sarah.

Followers of Christ are adopted into a bigger family than the one they are born into, and Sarah has experienced this firsthand. She knows the love of both her birth family and her adoptive family. Recently, on Jorie’s birthday, they all gathered at a Chicago pizzeria. As Sarah left the celebration, she said to her adoptive mother, “I’m so glad my mom didn’t abandon me. She found you, and now my family is even bigger.”

God often expands our families in ways we don’t expect, providing love and support in unexpected forms. I’m so glad that God doesn’t leave us on our own but surrounds us with a bigger family than we could ever have imagined.

Father, thank you for adopting us into your family. Help us embrace all of our brothers and sisters in faith, knowing we are united by your love and grace. Amen.