29 July Genesis 48

Adopted into God’s family Genesis 48:5(NIV) “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine”. Israel adopted Joseph’s first two sons and elevated them in stature to Israel’s other sons with a unique inheritance. From this, God reveals that He also offers to adopt you as one of His children. Through faith in Christ, He also provides you with a special inheritance in Him.

You can also become one of God’s “adopted” children through faith in Christ. Romans 8:14-17 (AMP) “For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear , but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit that we are children of God. 17 And if children, heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ , if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory”.

Your faith in Christ makes a special inheritance in Him available to you, in addition to becoming an adopted child of God. Colossians 3:24 (AMP) “knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve”. This is also confirmed by 1 Peter 1:3-4 (AMP) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 into an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you”.

To adopt someone is to make that person a legal son or daughter. Therefore when we come to faith in Christ, our debts are cancelled, we are given a new name, and we are given all the rights that heirs of God possess.