Adoption is a beautiful way to reflect God’s love and bring hope to a child in need. Today, we’ll learn what the Bible teaches about adoption and how it mirrors the way God has adopted us into His family.
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What Does The Bible Say About Adopting A Child
Deuteronomy 10:18
“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”
This verse highlights God’s heart for those who are vulnerable and without parents. He commands His people to care for the fatherless and the widows, showing His love and provision for them.
As believers, we are called to follow God’s example by extending love, protection, and provision to those who are in need, including orphaned children. Adopting a child is one way to fulfill this commandment and display the heart of God in our lives.
James 1:27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of caring for orphans and widows. True religion, according to God, involves actively seeking to alleviate the distress of those who are vulnerable and in need of support.
Adopting a child is an expression of pure and faultless religion. It demonstrates our obedience to God’s command and reflects His compassionate character in our lives.
Psalms 68:5
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
This verse assures us that God takes on the role of a Father to the fatherless and defends widows. He is not only a loving parent but also their protector.
When we choose to adopt a child, we are imitating God’s character. We step into the role of a loving and protective parent, providing a home and family for a child who may not have experienced these blessings before.
Ephesians 1:5
“He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
In this verse, we are reminded that God, in His pleasure and will, has predestined believers for adoption as His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ.
Adopting a child reflects the spiritual reality of our adoption into God’s family. It is a tangible expression of God’s love and grace, as we bring a child into our home and embrace them as our own.
Proverbs 14:21
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of compassionately caring for those in need. Oppressing the poor is considered contempt for God, while kindness towards the needy honors Him.
Adopting a child is an act of kindness and compassion towards a child who may have experienced neglect, poverty, or instability. By adopting, we demonstrate our love for God and honor Him through our care for the vulnerable.
Psalm 82:3
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
This verse encourages us to defend the weak, fatherless, poor, and oppressed. It is a call to action, urging us to advocate for justice and support those who are in need.
By adopting a child, we actively uphold the cause of the fatherless, giving them a loving and stable home. Our adoption journey becomes a testament to our commitment to defend and support those who are in vulnerable situations.
Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
In this verse, Jesus speaks about the significance of our actions towards those in need. Whatever we do for the least of His brothers and sisters, we do for Him.
When we adopt a child, we are not only providing for their physical and emotional needs but also demonstrating our love for Jesus by caring for one of His precious children.
Psalm 10:14
“But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
This verse reminds us that God sees and knows the troubles of the afflicted. He is their helper, taking their grief into His hands.
When we adopt a child, we align ourselves with God’s heart for the fatherless. We become instruments of His love and assistance, bringing comfort and stability to a child who may have experienced deep pain and loss.
Romans 8:15
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him, we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
This verse speaks about believers’ adoption into God’s family through the Holy Spirit. We are no longer slaves to fear but have been adopted as His children, able to call Him our loving Father.
Adopting a child reflects the beauty of our own adoption as sons and daughters of God. It allows us to create a loving and secure environment for a child, allowing them to experience the joy and confidence of belonging to a family.
Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
This verse calls us to seek justice and defend the oppressed. It specifically mentions taking up the cause of the fatherless and advocating for the widows.
By adopting a child, we respond to this call for justice. We take up the cause of the fatherless, providing them with a voice, a home, and a family. Our adoption journey becomes a testament to our commitment to seek justice and bring about positive change in the lives of vulnerable children.
Psalm 127:3
“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.”
This verse reminds us that children are a blessing and a reward from the Lord. They are a precious gift that comes from God.
Adopting a child allows us to celebrate this truth by embracing a child as a gift from God. We recognize their inherent worth and value, cherishing them as a special addition to our family.
Romans 12:13
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
This verse exhorts believers to share with those in need and practice hospitality. It is a reminder to be generous and welcoming towards others.
Adopting a child is an act of sharing, as we open our hearts and homes to a child who is in need of love and support. It is a practical demonstration of practicing hospitality, providing a safe and nurturing environment for a child to thrive.
Mark 9:37
“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
In this verse, Jesus teaches about the importance of welcoming children. By welcoming a child in His name, we are also welcoming Him and the One who sent Him.
When we adopt a child, we extend a warm welcome to them, embracing them as a precious gift from God. Our act of welcoming a child becomes an act of welcoming Jesus into our lives and homes.
1 Timothy 5:8
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This verse emphasizes the responsibility of providing for one’s relatives and household. Neglecting this responsibility is considered a denial of faith.
By adopting a child, we fulfill the commandment of providing for our household. We recognize that providing a loving and stable home is not only a practical responsibility but also an expression of our faith in action.
Isaiah 58:10
“And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
This verse speaks about the blessings that come from caring for the hungry and oppressed. It promises that acts of generosity will be rewarded with light in the darkness.
By adopting a child, we are spending ourselves in behalf of the vulnerable. We are satisfying their needs and bringing light into their lives. In return, God blesses us with the joy and fulfillment that come from making a difference in a child’s life.
Galatians 4:5
“to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
This verse speaks about Jesus’ work of redemption, enabling believers to receive adoption as sons and daughters of God.
Adopting a child reflects the beauty of our own adoption through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is a tangible expression of God’s love and grace, as we extend the same love and acceptance to a child, allowing them to be part of our family.
Matthew 19:14
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”
In this verse, Jesus emphasizes the importance of allowing children to come to Him. He values their presence and affirms that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are childlike in faith.
Through adoption, we remove hindrances that may prevent a child from experiencing love, security, and the opportunity to know and follow Jesus. We create an environment where they can grow in their relationship with God and understand the truth of the kingdom.
Proverbs 31:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
This verse encourages us to speak up and defend the rights of the poor, needy, and those who cannot advocate for themselves.
By adopting a child, we become their voice, ensuring that their rights are recognized and protected. We advocate for their well-being and create a nurturing environment where they can thrive.
Psalm 68:6
“God sets the lonely in families; he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
This verse highlights God’s heart to set the lonely in families and lead the prisoners into freedom and joy.
Through adoption, we participate in God’s redemptive work by providing a loving family and a sense of belonging to a child who may have experienced loneliness and insecurity. Our home becomes a place of freedom, joy, and restoration.
1 John 3:18
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
In this verse, we are urged to love not only with words but with actions and truth.
Adopting a child is a tangible act of love that goes beyond mere words. It is a demonstration of our commitment to love through action, providing a safe and secure environment where a child can experience genuine love and care.
Psalm 27:10
“Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.”
This verse reassures us of God’s unwavering acceptance and love. Even in situations where our earthly parents may fail us, God will always receive and embrace us.
Adopting a child is an opportunity to reflect God’s unfailing love to a child who may have experienced the pain of parental abandonment or rejection. It is a chance to show them the enduring love and acceptance of our heavenly Father.
John 14:18
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Jesus promises that He will not leave us as orphans but will come to us. He assures us of His constant presence and care.
By adopting a child, we embody this promise in their lives. We become the tangible representation of God’s love and faithfulness, providing a nurturing home where a child can experience a deep sense of belonging and security.