I recently stumbled across a verse that I had read a number of times before, but it never made an impression on me. In John 14:18, Jesus says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Here in the upper room, Jesus is reminding the apostles that, while they are orphans now, the time will come when God effects their adoption. Jesus is predicting their adoption even as He anticipates His earthly suffering and crucifixion.

This verse states that indicates that God’s plan for adopting His children shows intentionality, specificity, eternal consequences, and His omnipotence. Our adoption is not accidental, but is the reason that Jesus was willing to give His life.

My first experience of being chosen was when I was in elementary school during recess. The boys would play kickball when the weather was good, with us lining up so that the captains could choose who they wanted on their team. Being fairly unathletic and uncoordinated at that age, it was a sure thing that I would be one of the last chosen. In fact, I only joined their game one time and felt unwanted and alone after I was selected last of all.

On the other hand, it was a time of great joy at my wedding because I was secure in my wife’s choice of me to be her husband. She had accepted my proposal, and we looked forward to our life together. She was intentional (even as I was as well) in every way about her selection of me, and let me know that she would never leave me.

Jesus’ statement in John 14:18 shows that there is intentionality in God’s adoption of His children. The metaphor of adoption emphasizes the sovereignty of God in adopting those who become His children, just as the metaphors of being born again and redemption emphasize the work of God the Father. God intentionally adopts us because He chose us before the foundation of the world to be His children. In doing so, He states that He knew us before He created us, and He wanted to adopt us even though He knew everything about us.

In the same way that we intentionally adopted our sons because we were aware of their life history before adoption, and we wanted them in our family. God adopts His children because He knows all there is to know about them. He adopts us not just because of our need to be adopted, but rather because He chooses to lavish His love on those He has made sons and daughters.

We can share these purposes that God has for us with our adopted children as well. We can let them know that we intentionally adopted them and that their future with us is secure. We bonded with them long before they bonded with us (or even knew who we were). We should let them know daily how precious they are to us, and how much we love them. In this way, we mirror the character of God toward us. Any thoughts about this?