Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled The Beauty of Adoption was written by Con Campbell.

The 2009 film, The Blindside, depicts the true story of Michael Orr, a homeless teenager.

A family takes him in and helps him overcome learning difficulties and achieve excellence

in American football. In one scene, the family talks with Michael about the possibility of adopting

him after he'd been living with them for several months. In a sweet and tender reply, Michael exclaims that he thought he already was a part of the family.

It's a beautiful moment, just as adoption is a beautiful thing.

Love is extended and full inclusion is offered as a family opens its arms to a new member.

Adoption changes lives, just as it

profoundly changed Michael's life. In Jesus, believers are made children of God through faith in

Him. We're adopted by God and become His sons and daughters. As God's adopted children,

we received the Spirit of his son. We call God

Father, and we become his heirs and co-heirs with Christ. We become full members of his family.

When Michael Orr was adopted, it changed his life, his identity, and his future. How much more

for us who are adopted by God? Our life changes as we

know him as father, our identity changes as we belong to him, and our future changes as were

promised a glorious eternal inheritance.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Galatians chapter 3 verses 26 through chapter 4 verse 7.

So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith.

For all of you who are baptized into Christ have clothed

yourself with Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile neither slave nor free nor is there

male and female for you are all one in Christ Jesus if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham's

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