Adopted by Love
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Adopted by Love
The Gospel is primarily a story about God. Often times the word story refers to a fictitious event. There are true stories as well with the Gospel being a true story about our Triune God. God’s main purpose in telling this story is His glory. Basically the reason He tells the story is to put Himself on display. Characters in this story include, God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit and you. You play a part in the greatest story ever told.
In the story of God we see the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of His Son. We see it played out in the pages of Holy Scripture. There is one element to the story that should take your breath away. He loves you! God’s love is personal and intimate. He wrote the story as if you were the only one who existed. Galatians 2:20 reads, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Paul gives a personal touch to his explanation of the Gospel. The term, “who loved me” is packed with so much meaning.
First off Paul was a persecutor of the Church. He was at the stoning of Stephen holding the coats of those who were stoning Stephen, Acts 7:58. He then went on a rampage terrorizing Christians in a Nazi type fashion going home to home dragging them out to be put in jail, Acts 8:3. He was not a nice person to the Christians. He had zeal for God but not of knowledge until one day when the Lord intervened and saved Paul, Acts 9.
The same could be said for you and I. We may not have been out terrorizing Christians as Paul was but we were haters of God and showed it by not obeying His commands. At one time in our lives we did not have an affection or desire for God. It would be right for God to condemn us to hell. Some may know the day and time you heard the Gospel and your life changed. The goal of this devotional is to emphasize God’s personal interest in you which is part of His glory.
Paul personalized the Gospel when he said, “who loved me” in Galatians 2:20. Paul had a greater insight into the personal interest of Christ for himself when he explained in Philippians 1:8, “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Christ has affections for us! Those who love much are forgiven much, Luke 7:47. We may get caught up in the story of the crucifixion of Christ but do you ever focus on the inner being of the Man who died for you? In order for Him to do what He did He had to have had great love, affection, emotions, desires and longings for you. Yes, His primary purpose was to glorify God but He did it by loving you fervently to the cross. He glorified His Father the most by loving you!
Another amazing thing to know about God’s love for you is that it is shared equally within the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit are united with the same affections, desires, emotions that Christ displayed for you.
Has this truth made its way to your heart? Christian, when Christ was on the cross His omnipresent love was thinking of you as if you were the only person who ever lived. He loves you that fervently. He is God and He can do that! Paul knew it when he said, “Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” It was personal for Paul as it should be for you. Make the Gospel personal for you!
We are about to spend some time focusing on God’s solution to the sin problem. Let’s refer to it as God’s Adoption Process. One must be adopted through Christ in order to receive this love. Are you adopted? Let’s look at Jesus, who He is, what He did, how we can apply it to ourselves and lead others to accept Christ. God just doesn’t save you and leave you to yourself but He grows you in holiness as well.
God loves you! It’s a great love that can’t be understood just in words but you need His Spirit. Pray the Lord would awaken you to the knowledge of the depths of Love that He has for you in Christ Jesus!
