From Pasha's Papa

A year ago my mind was not on adoption, and while Nicole and I had spoken of adoption years ago it had never crossed my mind now that we had four biological children of our own. One could say ‘it was not in my plans’, but I’m realizing more than ever “the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9).

In the course of twenty-four hours this last February God opened my eyes to His heart for adoption. He radically changed my view on orphans, softened my hard heart, and placed on my heart His passion for the orphan – the hurting – the ones who are unloved. He showed me that I too was an orphan; one that He predestined to become a son before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:1-6). I realized that much time in my life had been spent on things that will not matter in eternity. He gave me a renewed focus and passion for His name to be glorified on this Earth – a kingdom focus.

The concept of adoption is everywhere in God’s word; in the Old Testament we see it in Moses, Esther, and Genubath. We also see God naming Israel His son (Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 14:1, 32:6, Jeremiah 31:9, and Hosea 11:1) but not until the New Testament do we see God name it adoption (Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:4-8) and His heart for the orphan (James 1:27).

Adoption was God’s plan from the beginning – before time began (Eph 1:4-6). It is at the center of the gospel. For some families adoption is a way to have children when there are things preventing children naturally, and that process is just as God glorifying. However, there is another motivation for adoption – another driving passion. That motivation is to see God’s glorious grace taken to the ends of the Earth by loving the unloved, by accepting what the world rejects. It is a living out of the commandment to “Go into the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15). Certainly preaching the gospel involves opening your mouth for Christ, but it equally involves living out that same gospel through loving the least and the lost. (Matthew 25:31-40) That includes feeding the starving, clothing the naked, and taking in those who have no home, no family, and no love. “'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt 25:40) Adoption is the heart of the gospel.

Adoption is about redemption. To redeem means to set free by paying a price. God redeemed his sons and daughters by paying the ultimate price, sending His son to die in our place. (Gal. 4:4-5) In the same way there are costs in adopting children. Some are financial; some are emotional. While Nicole and I initially and still wrestle with the costs of this adoption; we embrace the cost for the life of our child. This has given us a deep dependence on God throughout this process, and a greater understanding of God’s cost to redeem us. God’s cost to adopt us was infinitely greater than any cost we will endure in adopting and raising our children.

That is why we are adopting; we are following the Spirits prompting on our hearts to rescue this boy from his circumstances and to bring him into our family. We seek to honor The Father by glorifying His name in living out the gospel in this way. It is not a selfish desire, but a desire rooted in His purposes on this Earth. This trip we will be taking is a mission. It’s a mission’s trip – one to adopt our son, and to spread the gospel to those who need to hear.

God has given Nicole and I a love for this child even though we have never met him. We love because we have been loved first. (Romans 5:8) With this love, we will, God willing, embrace our new son, and show him Christ’s love so that he may become a son of the most high. That is the primary reason for adoption.

I love how John Piper puts it “The deepest and strongest foundation of adoption is located not in the act of humans adopting humans, but in God adopting humans.” Out of that love and foundation comes a love for a little boy alone across the sea. His name is Pasha; I have never met him, but He is my son. I have never seen him face to face, never held him in my arms, but he is already part of my family. As my Father grafted me into His family I have grafted Pasha into mine. It’s an adoption driven by love for my Father and for His kingdom.

For His Glory,

Pasha's Papa