The Gospel in Action: Why Christians Must Embrace the Call to Adoption
Throughout Scripture, God reveals His heart for the vulnerable, including the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan. In Deuteronomy 24:19-21, He commands His people to leave part of their harvest behind for them.
“When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow…”
This practice of leaving margin was not merely agricultural; it was spiritual. It was God’s way of ensuring His people lived in constant awareness of the vulnerable around them. It reflected the justice, mercy, and compassion of a God who never forgets the forgotten.
Adoption: A Picture of the Gospel
God’s command to leave margin was never only about crops. It was about people. Today, the need remains. Thousands of children here and around the world are growing up without the love, protection, and guidance of a family. As followers of Christ, we are invited to respond.
Romans 8 tells us that we were once spiritual orphans, but God adopted us. He didn’t just save us but made us sons and daughters. Adoption isn’t charity; it is identity. It is what God has done for us.
When Christians adopt, they live out the gospel with breathtaking clarity. They say to a child: You are seen. You are wanted. You are loved. You are family.
Leave Margin. Step Forward. Support Boldly.
Just as the Israelites were commanded to leave margin in their fields, we must leave margin in our lives financially, emotionally, and spiritually to care for the vulnerable today.
If you are sensing God may be calling your family to adopt:
Take the next step. Pray together. Talk to other adoptive families. Start learning about the process. Yes, it’s time consuming. Yes, it’s hard. But it is holy. When you step forward in faith, God will meet you with grace, provision, and strength.
If you can’t adopt:
You still have a role, and it’s vital. Families stepping out in faith to adopt need the Church to stand beside them. Adoption often costs tens of thousands of dollars, and the emotional toll is just as steep. Many Christian families are willing to say “yes” to a child but hesitate because of financial barriers or lack of support.
You can help bridge that gap:
- Give generously
- Host a fundraiser
- Provide meals or childcare
- Help with housework or errands
- Offer encouragement
- Pray faithfully
Let the Church Be Known for Love
Imagine a Church where no child waits without belonging, not because the government stepped in, but because God’s people stepped up. Imagine a body of believers so committed to the heart of God that every orphaned child is met with a waiting embrace.
Let us not harvest every inch of our lives for ourselves. Leave margin. Make space. Open your hearts. Open your homes.
Because God made room for us.
