A Story from the Counselling Room

girl1We have already mentioned Sally – not her real name of course. She was born into and grow up with a very fractured, Linda 1disorganised home. Her parents, products of a dysfunction background added to her misery. Dad and his issues seemed to dominate the home. He would take his frustrations out on the dog, her Mom and on her – when he was home.

Mom was the main breadwinner but her hours were long and tiring. With 5 children at home – Sally being the youngest, there never seemed enough to go around.

7/58 The Roman Custom to Adoption

dad4In writing to the Galatians, Paul used a Greek word,luiothesia” to describe our adoption by Father God. He described adoption as an act of God, whereby a born-again child is placed into the family as a Son, and given the full privileges of sonship, Galatians 4:1-2.

Paul was using the common terns of the Roman custom to raise their sons in the care of slaves, guardians and tutors until they reached the age of maturity, usually around 15 or 16. Then they were formally adopted and given the full rights and responsibilities of a grown son in the household.

7/57 Welcome to the Family – Adoption

We now begin STAGE 4 in our Series: Welcome to the Family!dad5

We have travelled from a slave to the world’s way of doing things into being a Steward. However, we found that being a Servant in the Church or religious system is still not enough for those who have been truly touched by the living God.

We then step into learning what it means to be a growing child of God. For most of us, we must face and grow through an Orphan Spirit. We can leave behind the abandonment and rejection that marks the life of an orphan as our next step is to become that adopted child.