Why Would Anyone Want to Be An Orphan?

Why Would Anyone Want to be an Orphan?

John 20:1-2
2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!"
NIV

The disciples are about to realize that our Lord has risen, but I want to look at something else here. I love how John refers to himself as the “one Jesus loved”. He says that several times in scripture.

He obviously believes that he IS the one that Jesus loved. How beautiful is that?

Do you wake up every morning and think to yourself, ‘I’m the one Jesus loves’?
When you look in the mirror or see your reflection in a window, do you think:
‘I’m the one Jesus loves’?

How would you describe the way God feels about you?

Maybe you think, ‘I’m the one Jesus is disappointed with’ or ‘I’m the one He’s angry with’?

When our adopted daughter Lauren was 2 years old, she loved the movie Annie (the original). We watch it at least once a day. There is a line that Carol Burnett says to Annie that just gets me every time. She holds her head in her hands, looks her in the eye and says:

“Why any kid would want to be an orphan is beyond me!”

Of course no one wants to be an orphan, but then why do so many of us live like orphans?

He also said:

Eph 1:3-6
4 For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-
NIV

You were chosen.

Adopted.

Are you living like an orphan? Do you struggle to believe that He loves you and wants to be a Father to you?

His Word says He’s chosen you.

As a Mom whose given birth to 3 children and adopted one, I can tell you that the love for my adopted daughter is very unique. It is not that I love her more, because I’m crazy about all my kids (and now my 6 grandkids!).

However, there is something so special about knowing that we’d specifically chosen this child and that we wanted to give her the best life possible.

Years ago, while putting her to bed, she said ‘I love you.’ She wasn’t able to speak clearly because of her cleft palate, but she was signing it and her saying that brought tears to my eyes!

We went through so many issues with behavior and attachment those first years she was home, that it brought us incredible joy to feel her reciprocate love to us.

On a much larger scale, that is true of how the Lord feels for us also. He offers His amazing love to us and hopes that we will receive it and fall in love with Him too.

Why would any one want to live like an orphan when we can wake up every day saying: I’m the one He loves!

1 John 4:9
9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
NIV

Let this Easter season be a time that you recognize how much He loves you and has not left you an orphan but adopted you into the family of God.

Much love,

Sue