Devo Week 47

The Role of the Insider -- Spirit of Adoption (Part 1)

Apostolic refers to those who are sent for the sake of the Gospel. The apostolic person leaves home and builds a new support system where they are sent through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Leaving one's own family and creating a new one is a key aspect of the apostolic call that can result in adoption.

Key Concept: Leaving One's Family

There may be other apostolic assignments, but the act of leaving one's own family is foundational to the apostolic, as consistently seen throughout Scripture. Abraham was offered a Promised Land ‘flowing with milk and honey’ if he left his family to follow the Lord. Paul sought to become 'all things to all men’ that some could be won. (I Cor. 9:22) New Testament apostolic followers of Jesus were promised a family, an inheritance in this life, along with persecutions as they left their own families. (Mark 10:29-31)

The choice of leaving one's family is following in the footsteps of Jesus, who laid aside His godly rights and privileges through the incarnation. (Phil. 2:5-11) Similarly, this choice to some degree is like the commitment to marriage: one is to leave his past family, in order to cleave and create a new one. (Gen. 2:24) So, leaving your own family is the first step in the right direction of creating a new one. Likewise, the sent one's leaving of family and building of a new one is an essential part of the apostolic call that can result in adoption.

The laying down of our lives even geographically activates the blessings that flow from the Spirit of adoption. Becoming an insider requires dying to self in ways different from other commitments. All of the familiar things -- relationships, food, language and environment -- are suddenly gone. Everything we've depended upon has been stripped away, and we become like a newborn baby in our new setting. By faith, our new life and support systems are built.

It is this type of faith from a generation sold out to the Lord, willing to follow Him apostolically, that will reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel.

Key Word Definition: adoption (noun)

-- the “Act of leaving one's natural family and entering into the privileges and responsibilities of another.” (source: https://tinyurl.com/7r54u4ks)

Excerpt from Devotional 47 with highlighted word:

"While it is true that one cannot be born to another mother, one can be adopted. Families increase by both birth and adoption. So does the Kingdom of God. This is the very essence of the apostolic call: to adopt a people and be adopted by them."

Scripture: Romans 8:15

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'”