Top 7 Bible Verses About Adoption

Adoption is widely accepted in our culture, with many organizations setup to assist with local adoptions and even international adoptions. It costs both time and money and many children continue to go to bed each night without having a mother, father or even caretaker who truly loves them. God has a purpose for each person and I believe He shows us countless examples of adoption situations so we can grow in our faith and truly understand what it means for God to adopt us as His children.

Here are seven Bible verses to expand what you know about adoption.

When You Adopt A Child You Are Saying Yes To Receiving God’s Blessings

Matthew 18:5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,” 

Is God calling you to adopt a child? Adoption requires sacrifice and a servant attitude. When you adopt you are accepting a child for who they are, regardless of any issues or problems that are a result of their past. All children have needs, but a child who was given up for adoption, who’s parents died or who has been removed from their home has special needs. Love can conquer all and if God is pricking your heart to accept a child, He’s not only calling you to give yourself, but to accept His blessings through the adoption.

God Adopts Everyone Who Is a Believer

Romans 9:8 “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” 

God has adopted all children who believe in Him and follow where He is leading. He is all knowing, but He doesn’t keep a record of where you came from. The same is true when you open your heart to adopt a child into your life. Legal adoption is common, but you can also “adopt” a child as your own who just needs extra love and attention. Extending God’s love to other people regardless of their background is a wonderful way to connect with them spiritually and all believers are siblings in Christ.

Race Should Not Limit Adoption

Acts 7:21“And when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.” 

Pharaoh’s daughter knew that the baby she found in the river was a Jew, but she felt compassion on Moses and God moved her to save him. This story is surprising in that she was able to keep the child because Pharaoh certainly would have known what was happening in his own house. God created everyone and does not divide people by race. There are people all around us who have needs and it’s important to follow where God is leading you. If you do adopt a child it’s another extension of God’s love to treat them as your own biological child.

Adoption Requires Compassion

Esther 2:7 “He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.” 

There are many reasons why children lose their parents, including when their parents die. The Bible doesn’t offer detail about how Esther’s parents died and that’s the beauty of it. Mordecai knew the story, but he didn’t base his decision to adopt Esther on the deeds of her parents. I believe Mordecai reached out in compassion and it was part of God’s plan. She ended up becoming the queen of Israel. God has a special purpose for the child you have adopted and has chosen you to help fulfill His plan and guide His precious son or daughter.

God Always has a Plan to Take Care of You

Psalm 27:10 “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” 

Kids who are left on their own endure the painful realization of abandonment and rejection. God designed children to seek out their parents and want a relationship with them regardless of whether their parents are moral. If you one or both of your parents didn’t live up to the expectations God has of a mother and father, He is seeking you and wants to fulfill the longing you have always had. He provides in many ways, which might be a special teacher in your life, a caring neighbor or a grandmother who treats you like their own.

We All Need Spiritual Adoption

Romans 8:23 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” 

While many people seek adoption into a loving home on Earth, we all need spiritual adoption and God is the only being who can fulfill this. Children without a home are eager and hopeful to be chosen while they spend day after day in an orphanage or foster home. Do you long for God to adopt you? We don’t know how long we will have to wait for Christ to return, but accepting Christ as your savior will allow God to adopt you as one of His own children.

God Calls You to Lead Children to Trust Him

Hebrews 2:13 “And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”” 

This verse does not say, “the children I have birthed.” Regardless of whether you have biological children or not, God places you in specific situations to influence those around you. Maybe it’s other children at the park playing with your kids. Maybe you just adopted a child with a troubled past. Maybe you have a dozen children of your own. Focus on guiding all the children you are blessed with to trust in God through all situations.

There are many forms of adoption, from legally and physically accepting a new child in your home to treating other children as your own to allowing God to adopt you spiritually. Reality is that we all need to be adopted by God, but also by the people who surround us. Adoption is about treating other people with the love that God has shown us. Take down the boundaries of race, thoughts of “I can’t” and limits you are placing on God. I would love to hear your ideas on how you can “adopt” another soul today!

Article by Elise Cleary

I am a Christian writer and editor that lives in northern Michigan and thoroughly enjoy music, movies, TV shows, books and other entertainment with a Christian focus. My favorite song is “Oceans” by Hillsong United because it reminds me that has big plans for me and everyone else who puts their trust in Him. There are many movies that have impacted my life, but a few include God’s Not Dead, The Shunning and Letters to God. I also write for www.faithandentertainment.com and love connecting with readers, so please don’t hesitate to contact me! When I’m not writing I enjoy watching movies and laughing with my busy toddler and husband.