Why can Christians live and walk in freedom as God’s adopted children and no longer with the spirit of an orphan?

Take a moment to read these verses in John… meditate, journal, and reflect.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

John 14:15-31

In this passage, Jesus is promising the Holy Spirit to the disciples—assuring them that they would never be alone…reminding them of their adoption. They were afraid because He told them about His departure from earth. Though He knew His death was coming in a few hours, He was still concerned with the peace and faith of His followers. This is incomprehensibly kind and wonderful. He was thinking of His disciples as death loomed ahead of Him. He was giving them assurance that there was a place for them to run and find refuge in, even if He was not there physically.

These words were said to give the disciples assurance and encouragement in their identity as children of God, but also for us to find refuge in as well. For everyone who believes in His name, the message is this: when He dies, He will live again, and the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) will come to you and be with you forever—never leaving or forsaking you (“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18). He gives His children what they need…protection, provision, guidance, everything.

We were all born as orphans with no hope, but God being rich in mercy, invites us into a relationship with Him, to be made new and alive. He invites us to become His own. Before we are adopted as God’s children, we are dead in the trespasses and sins, living for the world and our flesh…children of wrath (“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3).

The story doesn’t end here, though. There is hope to be found…but only in Jesus Himself.

God reaches into hearts that were once dead and breathes life into them, raising them to new life (“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” Ephesians 2:4-5). In Him, we have all things (“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3).

Below is one of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes. It is such a beautiful picture of allowing God to take the reigns of our life. When he adopts us, calls us His own, and says “I am your loving Father”, do you trust Him? Do you believe He is your peace, your hope, your home?

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

I have prayed for every person who may read this blog today. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you’re living as if it is still up to you, that the Spirit never came and could never teach or guide your life, would you live as the adopted child you are? Would you stop acting like there is no Father who loves you? Get into the Word and read about His deep and precious love for you. Spend time with Him today and pray that you would no longer have the spirit of an orphan, but that of the adopted child you are.

If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, would you consider a relationship with Him? Would you take the step of faith and talk to someone who might be able to walk through this with you? If you have questions about the Gospel or what this relationship looks like, I have linked some resources below. Please feel free to reach out to me as well. I would love to talk to you!

Would You Like to Know God Personally?

What is the Gospel?

How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Reflection Question(s):

How can you walk as an adopted child, loved and cherished by God, today?

Would you consider allowing Him in, so He can build something beautiful and wonderful—something where He too can live in it Himself?

Today’s Worship Song: God Be— Chris Renzema

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYsFIvKRhU

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5JIxhbt3APqvux94GYvnXY?si=K4LnelV1TNunh1MwwOtJDA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/god-be/1464547112?i=1464547458

Sadly, April is coming to an end and I will no longer be posting a devotional each morning. When God first told me to write every day of April, I had no idea what He had in store, but WOW! Each day, He drew me closer and closer into His presence, and as I studied His Word, I learned so much more about His character. He has blessed me beyond measure through this platform and I feel so incredibly thankful.

It is only by the grace of God that I was able to write so much this month. Before I started, I was fearful…I didn’t know how people would respond, but I knew God had called me to do something and I wanted to walk in obedience. Let me just tell you, that is the BEST decision you can possibly make. He really does know what’s best for you. Don’t let fear from the enemy tell you otherwise. I know His hand was in the midst of all of this and that I truly am nothing without Him. He sustains me and provides me with the words to write. If it is His will, I will continue writing and you will receive them in your inbox (if you’re subscribed to emails).

Thank you for praying for me, encouraging me, and sharing the ways God is moving in your life. I truly appreciate all of you…from the bottom of my heart.

With Love,
Brooke

I would love to know how God has been moving in your heart during this season of life, and how I can be praying for you. If you would like to share, you can email me at: blrich1399@gmail.com or message me!