Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 

Romans 8:23 

To press a little farther upon the idea of the culmination of our adoption, let us consider these words, ‘even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.’ Simply put, we feel the weight of our current physical state and long for the day when we receive a new body. Being a sufferer of his ‘thorn in the flesh,’ Paul would have felt this keenly. Beyond that, the total effect of all his trials, the beatings, the stoning, the imprisonments and the hardships of the missionary journeys which he endured, would have made his latter years filled with pain. According to sources, adoption during ancient days occurred in two stages. The first stage was a rather private affair, and could be unpublicized. The second stage was a highly public affair when the adopted one received the new robes of sonship which befit his or her new rank. So it is with us. We are already the sons and daughters of the Living God, yet all the world does not recognize our Royal stations, nor is it necessary, for the moment that they do so. There comes a day, however, when with glorified bodies, as befits our rank as the Children of God by adoption, we shall stand before the eyes of all, owned of God as His Own, and ready to reign with Christ. So we wait, but not for long. 

Our most Glorious and Living God, 
we rejoice that You have made us Your Own. 
We praise You, that the day is coming when You shall own us before the eyes of all. 
Continue to show us Christ, until the faith becomes sight. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

….and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 

Romans 8:17 

It is, perhaps, difficult for us to comprehend that we are, ‘heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.’ For us who were born the sons and daughters of Adams’ fallen race, into a world of corruption, sin, and degradation, this is beyond our ability to grasp. Yet, we find that our text today, declares that it is so. This means that Christ’s Righteousness is my Righteousness; that His Throne is my Throne; that His Heaven is my Heaven; that the Love of the Father to Him is the Love of the Father to me; that I have been, ‘received unto the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.’ Where Christ, the Head, is there must His Body also be. Where the Bridegroom feasts, there must the Bride also dine. Where the Elder Brother Rules, there must the younger siblings also ‘reign with Him.’ There is nothing which is Christ’s by inheritance which is not also ours. We are, ‘Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.’ Here is something to raise our hearts today. We have yet to come into the full measure of our inheritance. We have yet to awaken with glorified bodies and the full sight of Christ, for which we have longed so greatly. The inheritance in all its’ fullness shall yet arrive, and all the children shall enter into the richness of it. 

Our Great and Gracious God, 
we rejoice that You elevated us to the position of heirs. 
We are Your people, bought with a saving blood of Christ, 
with Whom we are joint heirs. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… 

Romans 8:16 

To pursue this idea of the practical implications of adoption a little farther, let us consider our text for today. One of the results of the transformation which occurs at salvation is that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. According to our text today, one of the things the Holy Spirit does is to ‘bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.’ How often does this ‘witness’ take away the ‘spirit of bondage again to fear’ that would pull us backward into doubt and unbelief. It seems at times, as if our corruptions are so great, our growth in grace so slow, our apprehension of truth so long in coming, that we would nearly despair of our standing in Grace. Then the Blessed Comforter draws alongside us, and shows us again the Living Christ. He draws our hearts out after ‘The Ever-Living One, Whose wounds for us do plead.’ He assures us that we are indeed, the sons and daughters of the Great God of Wonders. This lifts us up from our downcast condition. We look again to Christ. We peruse the Word of God and lay hold on the promises. We confess, forsake, lay aside the weights and sins which so easily beset us.  We rise with renewed hope and anticipation of the day when ‘the faith shall be sight.’ We are, and shall forever be, ‘the children of God.’ So the Spirit has witnessed, and so it must be. 

Our most Holy and Wise God, 
We rejoice that You have given us Your Spirit. 
We praise You for all that He shows us of Christ, 
And how He convinces us, that we are Yours forever. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

Romans 8:15 

Let us today, extend our consideration of the subject of adoption a bit farther. Consider, the implications of our text. What is the fruit of our adoption by God in practical terms? It is, so far as our text declares, the ‘spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.”’ The story goes that the word, ‘Abba’ is one of the first a toddler learns by which to address his father because it requires no teeth to say. We are much like toddlers in the early days of our spiritual experience. We stumble and tumble, whimper, whine, and drool. We have little knowledge and experience, and are bottomless pits of wants and needs. For all our weaknesses and lack of stalwartness, we look up with tear-stained faces and cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ Perhaps you find this description very accurate of yourself today. Realize, trembling Child of Grace that, ‘This God is our God forever and ever.’ He marries and never divorces. He adopts and never disowns. You have found yourself failing in spiritual matters at every turn. You stumble from day to day, feeling as if you will never find your feet or make a right decision. Yet, you are a Child of the King. He has adopted you into the Royal Family. You may feel as if you are a failure today, but understand, Christ has lived and died; has risen, and intercedes. He is coming again to receive you unto Himself. There is for you a place at the King’s Table where the Children of the Realm sit. The Sovereign God of Heaven is your Heavenly Father, and He loves to hear you cry, ‘Abba!’ 

Our Loving and Kind Father, 
You are acquainted with all our ways. 
You graciously tolerate our weaknesses, 
And labor over us, until You have made us strong. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning