This morning I listened to Martin Emmrich preaching a sermon on adoption. Very encouraging. Go listen to if if you have time.

My children are adopted. We chose our children for their good–my husband and I wanted to bless them, to save them from lives of neglect or abuse. And we chose them because we longed for relationship with children. We wanted to love them and be loved in return.

That’s where the similarites between the way we adopted our children and the way God adopted his end.

We chose our children sight unseen, still in the womb. And how many times have I said, “If I’d known how hard it is to raise kids, I’d have never adopted.” I’m not joking. I love my children to death and am so thankful that I did adopt them, but had I known how hard it would be, I wouldn’t have embarked on this painful journey. After all, I’m nothing if not lazy and selfish.

But God adopted us knowing full well what it would cost him. He adopted us knowing exactly what he was getting–rebellious, stiff-necked people.

Wow!