Tuesday 24 May 2022

Psalm 130

Background

 A close member of my family adopted a child some years ago. I recall the cautious meetings with the youngster as we tiptoed through the early visits not wanting to overwhelm them or ignore the uncertain life they had previously lived.

Now, it is impossible to imagine our family without this person who has become so special. Watching them gain confidence, integrate into our frankly crazy family, forge a career in the caring services and see them become happily married has been a joy.

Local radio in our area regularly carries adverts asking for people to consider adoption. It always ends with a young child’s voice saying they want to: ‘find forever families’.

That’s exactly what this passage is about: finding our place and our security in God’s forever family.

St Paul, who wrote this letter, is probably drawing on a process familiar in the Graeco-Roman world, where a rich but childless person could select someone, even a slave, who had no blood-relationship, and adopt them legally. The person would move from being an outsider to heir apparent.

Becoming part of God’s forever family isn’t a matter of chance or human selection, but is initiated by God acting at the right time. Jesus, says St Paul, came into the world precisely to bring about a freedom won by dying on the cross by the grace of God. Why? So we might no longer be slaves to sin but heirs of all that heaven holds.

Paul has already reminded the Galatians that they are all children of God through faith (Galatians 3:26) and later encourages them to live that out, saying: "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore...." (5:1).

To Ponder:

• How do we ‘stand firm’ as part of God’s forever family in today’s society?
• What is your testimony of becoming part of the family of God?

Prayer
Father God, we thank you that you have made a way for us to be part of your forever family. Amen.