‘This is the Day’ = Giddy

As I type it is 9:55 am in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (1:55 am Arkansas time). We arrived to the Ethiopian Guest House around 11 pm last night (May 19th, 3 pm AR time). So far this morning I have had a shower; meditated on Ephesians 1:1-3; eaten delicious eggs (with chile peppers, onions, and tomatoes), carrot cake, pineapple juice, and 3 cups of coffee; and of course, taken a brisk wife with my exercise crazy wife.

In about 2 hours we will eat lunch here at the Guest House and then travel to meet our little girl. It is hard to believe the day is finally here. Anticipation has built and built and built. It’s here. Today is the day. I will, God willing, get to embrace this little girl and begin a father-daughter relationship with her.

This causes me to wonder:

“What was on the heart of God weeks, days, hours, and minutes before I trusted Him and it became ‘official’ that I was His adopted son?” 

The Father knew from eternity past that I would become His adopted child. Yet there was a moment when I went from being a condemned sinner outside the family of God to being a righteous and obedient and sinless son with all the rights and privileges of God’s own Son. I wonder what He was thinking moments leading up to that decision of faith? The Bible says Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (see Galatians 3:6 and Genesis 15:6). Abraham believed and he became righteous. Because of Jesus, the moment one believes, they are made – more than ‘right’ with God – but literally sons of God.

My heart is filled to overflowing with excitement to begin this relationship with our little girl. I cannot wait to grant her every right and privilege that Luke and Seth have. Consider though, that my heart is sinful and evil and I do not have the capacity to love fully. The Father, on the other hand, knows no sin. He can love fully. He invented it. He is love.

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

I’ll bet God was pretty giddy in His Spirit the moments leading up to ‘meeting’ me as His son. I know I am right now.

Dwell on that for a while today. God was giddy to get you. It wasn’t even based on anything you had or hadn’t done. He was giddy simply, yet gloriously, because He graciously chose to love you forever.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your great name.