ADOPTED BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

Romans 8:14-16 KJV

I heard someone say “My parents didn’t love me”.  I used to feel the same way.  I really believed my parents didn’t love me.  However, I know now that they did love me even if they didn’t tell me that they loved me or hugged me.  There are some people who don’t feel comfortable showing their emotions.

There is a verse in the Bible that comforted and encouraged me during those years when I believed that my parents didn’t love me.  “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).  What really breaks my heart is that my parents didn’t know how much Jesus loved them.

I cried because I wasn’t always loving and respectful to my parents and asked God to forgive me.  It’s easy for us to point the finger of guilt at someone else.  However, it’s a lot more difficult for us to point the finger of guilt at ourselves, isn’t it?  The Bible makes it very clear that we are not to judge each other.

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” (Luke 6:37).  One of my pastors said in a sermon “If we will make sure our own heart is right before God, we won’t have the time to judge others”.

Are we hugging others for Jesus?  If we don’t feel comfortable hugging them physically, we can hug them with our words.

Joanne Lowe

March 24, 2015