The Heart of Christ

I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. John 14:18

These were the words of Christ as He discussed with His disciples the death He was about to experience. I often times think of the words I might say to those closest to me if I were knocking on death's door. I love you? It's ok? The reality of death would most likely draw out my true heart. Whether it be fear, peace, hope or love.  Whatever would come out of my mouth would only be by the grace of God. I believe we find in this passage the heart of Christ. Oh yes, we find the heart of Christ elsewhere, but it is here where we find words of comfort and hope. Even as He is facing death! Those who had been spiritually orphaned, abandoned because of their sin were told by Christ, "I will not leave you as orphans, I am coming to you." WOW! The Creator of all things, the one who holds all things together (Colossians 1) is pursuing His creation?! This is the heart of Christ...to seek and save that which is lost! To bind up the broke, to set the captive free! I believe this is the heart that Christ wants us to have as His body and as His children.

Recently, I was having a conversation with my dad explaining to him how our understanding of God has grown tremendously through this adoption process (we are not yet done with the process and there is still much more to learn). This growth that has come is not because of anything "super" spiritual or really anything "new" in the sense that we have never heard it before. The growth has come in understanding the reality of God's love for His children. (1 John 3) The growth has come in understanding the completion of our adoption into the family of God. (Rom. 8) This growth has come in understanding a small fraction of what it means to no longer be orphans. (John 14:18) As we grow in this understanding our excitement has grown to share in the heart of Christ, whatever that means and however that looks! We are still waiting for the match of our two children, but trust that our Savior who did not leave us as orphans will also pursue them even now as we wait. Our agency has started networking with some new orphanages and we are optimistic that this will bring us one step closer to completing our family!