Day 49: Adopted, not orphaned. | The Walk Out

A lot of us walk around feeling like nobody’s claimed us. The actual word for that feeling is orphaned. Even if our parents are alive. Even if we have a family.

The Bible says something different about people who follow Jesus.

TODAY’S TRUTH You are not orphaned. You were adopted. There’s a difference.

THE READ “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” — Romans 8:15

That word “Abba” is important. It’s not a formal name. It’s the equivalent of “Dad.” Or “Daddy.” Casual, intimate, trusting. The way a kid talks to a parent who’s actually safe.

THE REAL Adoption in Bible-times Rome was a serious legal act. When a Roman family adopted you, you became fully their kid. You inherited everything. Your old debts were erased. You couldn’t be disowned. You weren’t a halfway-kid or a foster-kid or a charity case. You were a son or daughter.

That’s the picture of what God does with you when you say yes to Jesus.

You’re not a project He’s working on out of pity. You’re not on probation. You’re not “getting a chance to prove yourself.” You’re adopted. Full standing. Inheritance and everything.

A lot of us live like orphans even though we’ve been adopted. We don’t ask the Father for anything. We try to scrape together our own life. We act like there’s no Dad to call. We carry the weight that our family is supposed to share. We try to be self-sufficient because we don’t think anyone’s actually got us.

Wrong picture. The Spirit Himself, Paul says, lets you call God “Dad.” Not “Boss.” Not “Sir.” Dad.

If you’ve been living like an orphan even though you were adopted, today’s the day to start acting like the kid you actually are.

PULL UP Have you been living like an orphan or like an adopted kid? What’s been the giveaway?

THE MOVE Today, when you talk to God, call Him Dad. Even if it feels weird. Especially if it feels weird.

TRACK IT What did that feel like?