When Jesus taught his followers to pray, he started with two simple words: “Our Father.” (Matthew 6:9)
At the time, this was a shocking word choice. People were used to relating to God as distant, holy, and unapproachable. But Jesus changed everything when he invited us to see God in the most personal way possible—as a Father.
God Isn’t Grading You—He Loves You
Many of us slip into a fearful view of God. We think of him as a demanding boss: handing out assignments, grading our performance, and waiting for us to mess up. When that’s how you see him, you either exhaust yourself trying to earn his approval or you run the other way when you feel like you’ve failed.
If you’ve ever seen God that way, it’s no wonder you’d want to keep your distance. Who wants to run toward a boss when they’ve failed?
But that’s not who God is. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 1:5:
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
God doesn’t see you as an employee. He’s adopted you as his child.
What It Means to Be Adopted Into God’s Family
In the first century, adoption looked very different from how we think of it today. Wealthy Romans who had no heir would adopt an adult—sometimes even one of their servants—to carry on their name and inherit their estate.
Here’s what that meant in Paul’s world:
- Debts erased: The new son’s debts were legally canceled.
- A new name: He was given the family name and full rights as a child.
- An inheritance secured: He became the heir to everything the father owned.
- Permanent status: Roman law made adoption final—you could never disown an adopted child.
So when Paul says that God has adopted us into his family, the people listening would have understood how shocking this was. It meant God wasn’t just offering forgiveness. He was erasing our debts, giving us a brand-new identity, guaranteeing us an eternal inheritance, and making us his children forever.
That’s why adoption isn’t just a warm, fuzzy metaphor—it’s a life-altering reality of what God, your Heavenly Father, has done for you in Christ.
When “Father” Is a Difficult Word
For some, the word father doesn’t bring comfort. Maybe your dad was absent, harsh, or impossible to please. Maybe you never knew him at all.
If that’s your story, it makes sense that calling God Father could feel complicated. But here’s what Scripture tells us is true of our heavenly Father:
- If your father was harsh, God is compassionate (Psalm 103:13).
- If your father was distant, God is close (Psalm 34:18).
- If your father was hard to please, God delights in you (Zephaniah 3:17).
God is not a bigger version of your earthly father. He’s the perfect Father you were created for—the one who heals your wounds, gives you your identity, and calls you his own.
When you know God as Father, you can stop striving to earn his approval. You can come to him honestly, with questions, doubts, anger, and joy, knowing you’re safe and at peace in his love.
It also changes how you see yourself. You’re not unwanted, overlooked, or defined by your mistakes. You are chosen, adopted, and loved as a child of God.
A Father Who Wants You Home
Nobody has ever been accidentally adopted. Adoption is always intentional. And that’s exactly how God feels about you.
Ephesians 1:5 says that bringing us into his family “gave him great pleasure.” You are not a burden. God wanted you.
If you’ve been running from him, maybe today is the moment to come home—to trust that your heavenly Father is waiting with open arms. If you’re ready to make that decision today, let us know! We’d love to pray with you and offer you some support as you make that step in your faith journey.
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What else does the Bible say about God’s character? Here are 9 Bible verses that tell us who he is.
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LCBC stands for Lives Changed By Christ. We are one church in multiple locations across Pennsylvania. Find the location closest to you or join us for Church Online. We can’t wait to connect with you!