New Life … New Identity

I don’t remember being there for my birth, but I’m sure that was the case. At least my mom said I was.

I remember with joy and celebrate the moment Laura said, “I do” and her radiant glow as we began a new life together. In that moment, we became family. I also remember watching the agony of labor and the anticipated delivery of our children as our family grew with new life.

I remember watching each of our boys being born. The moment of creative fulfillment, begun months beforehand, now revealed in truly miraculous process. Seeing them take their first breath literally and figuratively took my breath away.

I remember Breanna coming home with us on her “forever Friday” and that incredible moment a few weeks later in which she was officially, legally, our child. That was simply the realization of what had been practically true for some time; she had a home in our hearts long before then. With a signature, there was a new identity and a new member of the family.

Those are precious times, and wonderful things to reflect on. But there’s an even better story of new life and family adoption.

The New Testament speaks directly to being made new, regenerated, born again, when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as both our Savior and Lord. Nicodemus was told twice by Jesus that he must be born again (John 3:3; 7). Paul also instructed the Corinthians, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17; see also Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 Peter 1:23; John 1:13).

But notice the relationship and transaction. At the moment of our spiritual new birth, or regeneration, God did not simply stand back and look at us through the nursery window. He adopted us into His own family. In fact, He paid the adoption fee ahead of time. Galatians 4:4-5 tells us, “When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ’Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.”

Only God’s grace, through our faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, can save us. Only He can make us new. And, though we actively participate in our own spiritual growth, only He can transform us such that we grow to produce fruit as a son and heir of God (Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 2:12b-13).

Today, as we reflect on and celebrate mothers, may we be eternally reminded of the new life and adoption that we have received through God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. May we take joy in knowing that He is helping us grow and mature in sanctification until we are finally brought home to be with Him in heaven.