Love Day #18: The Place at the Table
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” — Romans 8:15 (NIV)
THE JOURNEY
We fostered a teenager named Sam who had bounced between six different homes in three years. He was polite, tidy, and incredibly distant. He called me “Sir.” He asked permission to use the bathroom. He kept his shoes on at all times, ready to leave.
Every night at 2:00 AM, I would hear soft footsteps in the kitchen.
One night, I went down to check. I found Sam standing in the dark by the open refrigerator, shoving slices of ham and cheese into his pockets. When he saw me, he froze. He dropped the food. He put his hands up like he was being arrested.
“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I was hungry. Don’t send me back.”
My heart shattered. He was living in my house, but he was living with an “Orphan Spirit.” He believed he was a guest on thin ice. He believed he had to steal to survive because he didn’t really belong.
I walked over, picked up the ham, and put it back on the shelf. Then I took his hands.
“Sam,” I said firmly. “Look at me. Do you steal from a stranger?” “Yes,” he whispered. “Do you steal from a father?” He looked confused. “No?”
“Exactly,” I said. “You can’t steal this food, Sam. It’s already yours. This is your fridge. This is your kitchen. You don’t have to sneak around in the dark to get what I bought for you. You just have to open the door.”
The next day, I went to the store and bought a keychain. I put a key to the front door on it. I handed it to him. “If you have a key,” I told him, “you’re not a guest. You’re a son.”
It took months, but eventually, Sam stopped calling me “Sir” and started calling me “Dad.” He stopped hoarding food. He learned that he didn’t have to earn his meals; he just had to take his seat.
Heart of the Matter
Many Christians suffer from a spiritual “Orphan Spirit.” We love God like employees. We think, If I work hard enough, He will pay me. If I mess up, He will fire me. We ask for blessings like we are begging for scraps at the back door.
But Romans 8:15 tells us that the love of God changes our legal status. We are not slaves; we are adopted heirs.
Here is the dynamic: You love God by believing His invitation. You love Him by taking off your shoes, relaxing in His presence, and accepting that you belong. You stop trying to “steal” blessings or “earn” your keep. He loves you back by giving you the keys. He gives you the family name. He gives you the right to cry “Abba” (Daddy). He treats you not according to your performance, but according to your position in the family.
The greatest insult to a father is for his child to act like a beggar. The greatest compliment is for his child to raid the fridge with confidence.
Faith in Action
Language shapes reality. Today, change how you address God to reflect your adoption.
The Challenge: In your prayers today, do not use formal titles like “Almighty God” or “Lord and Master.” Force yourself to use the intimate terms of a child: “Father,” “Dad,” or “Abba.”
- Instead of “Lord, please help me,” say “Dad, I need help.”
- Instead of “God, forgive me,” say “Father, I made a mess.”
Feel the shift in your heart from fear to safety.
Prayer for the Day
Abba, Father. It feels strange to call You that, but I want to break the Orphan Spirit in me. I confess that I often act like a hired hand, afraid of being fired. Today, I accept my adoption. I accept that I have a seat at the table that cannot be taken away. I stop begging and start receiving. Thank You for the key to the house. I am home. Amen.
LOVE Note
“Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification… To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.” — J.I. Packer