National Adoption Month, which occurs every November, may seem like a secular celebration, but there is a lot of spiritual and religious significance to it, too. God wants us to adopt children who need loving homes and parents who can guide them through their childhoods and adulthood. In celebration of National Adoption Month and the joy it brings to kids, families, and communities across the country, here are reasons why God wants you to adopt this National Adoption Month. You’ll also learn a few scriptures about the essence of adoption.
We Are Adopted Into God’s Family as His Children
God wants us to come into His family as His children by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This is shown throughout scripture. In Romans 8, the Bible tells us that we are adopted into God’s family when we become Christians: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him, we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
In the same way, this National Adoption Month, consider if there might be someone out there who needs a dad or mom and who would love it if you said yes to being their parent. What about considering yourself a little more? What about asking God for the desire and courage to step up and adopt another human being and then taking one step toward making it happen?
Every Child Deserves a Family
God uses the family as His primary means of care and instruction (Deut 6:4–9). King David proclaims God as the “father of the fatherless and protector of widows” in Psalm 68. It is God’s will that the lonely find a place to call home. (Ps 68:5–6a). David understands that a child’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development is best served by the stability and safety of a family. Research has repeatedly shown that children require stability in all facets of their lives to flourish.
Adoption gives a child a forever home where they can feel safe, secure, and cherished. Having a parent, they can confide in about their achievements and setbacks provides them peace of mind. This November is National Adoption Month, so consider adopting a kid and welcoming them into your family.
Child Adoption Is an Act of Love
Adopting a child is an act of love. It’s one of the most selfless things you can do and will change your life. The Bible says that adoption is a way of showing how much we care for other people by treating them as if they were our children (Ephesians 1:5). Keep in mind that God has always intended to accept us into his family and has done so by drawing us to himself via Jesus Christ. He found enormous satisfaction in fulfilling this desire. When you adopt, you’re saying that no matter what happens in their lives, they’ll always be loved and cared for by someone.
Children Are a Gift from God
Children are a blessing and a recompense from the Lord. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” This demonstrates that God designed the household and gave us the gift of children. This is why it’s so crucial for parents to take good care of their children. Adopt the kids and provide them the same upbringing they would have gotten from their original parents, including lessons on entering the kingdom of heaven that rightfully belongs to them.
Live According to God’s Will
Matthew 25:35, which reads, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in,” is a verse that commonly comes up in discussions about adoption. There are adoption houses that do not provide enough care for children. Many of the kids waiting to be adopted have either lost track of their biological parents or been abandoned by them for one reason or another. Put Matthew 25:35 to good use by responding kindly to what God has done for you. Help a child in need by providing them with a safe place to stay, something to eat and drink, and a place to rest their head.
Let’s Help the Needy
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” – James 1:27. The verse implies that when we visit orphans and widows in their affliction, it is pure and undefiled religion before the Father. What better way to show obedience to this verse than by adopting a child? Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, ‘I tell you solemnly, just as you did it to one of these brothers or sisters of mine, so you did it to me.’ Christians should realize that God still loves those who are vulnerable and fatherless. And as God’s children, we must defend the rights of the impoverished and oppressed.
The Bottom Line
November is National Adoption Month, and it’s the perfect time to discuss the importance of adoption in our lives, in the lives of children waiting to be adopted, and why God has asked us to adopt. There are many good reasons to adopt or foster kids, including that you’re providing life-changing opportunities to children in need and impacting society and your local community. Are you considering adopting, or do you know someone who should? Contact your local adoption agency for more information on how you can provide a child with a loving family and a future.
