Beloved: Adoption

At the heart of this Advent message lies a profound truth that transforms how we understand the entire biblical narrative: God's deepest desire has always been for family. From the opening chapters of Genesis through the birth of Jesus, we discover that the Bible isn't primarily about rules, rituals, or even individual salvation—it's the story of a Father longing to gather His children home. When Adam and Eve fell, God didn't just lose obedient subjects; He experienced the heartbreak of family fracture. When Israel wandered into idolatry, it wasn't just disobedience—it was children rejecting their Father. The Tower of Babel represents humanity filing for emancipation from God, and His response was a painful disinheritance. Yet through it all, God never abandoned His plan. The calling of Abraham in Genesis 12 marks God's refusal to give up, His determination to create a family that would ultimately bless all families of earth. This Advent season, we're reminded that Jesus wasn't born simply to forgive sins or provide a ticket to heaven—He came to restore us to our rightful place as beloved sons and daughters. The incarnation is God's ultimate act of family reunion, His extravagant love lavished upon us so we might be called children of God. And remarkably, that's exactly what we are.