I remember when I knew that I was going to be a father. I was 27 years old, not married, and positive who my wife was to be — Rebecca. However, I wrestled with the fact that marrying Rebecca would simultaneously make me a father. Rebecca had a 7-year old son, Seth, and I knew absolutely nothing about being a father. A friend asked me a profound question: are you defined as a child of God or as a father?

I sat on that question for several days and through the power of a Holy Spirit slap, I realized that I am defined as a child of God. God sent His son to rescue and adopt me into His family. And now, he calls me son. Immediately after saying that out loud, I knew that I was Seth's father even if he didn't know he was my son yet.

The Bible teaches that God is a good father who pursues his children despite where they've been and what they've done. And if the church is called to mirror the love of Christ, what does this look like in the life of an orphan?

The Call to Orphan Care

Let's fast forward to 3 years and some legal fees later. The legal process to adopt my son has been both challenging and sanctifying. There is so much to know in order to provide a fair and smooth trial, but the constant reminder of God's pursuit is the fuel for our journey. For my family and I, we know this path is to satisfy our legal system and we will submit to that, but as for Chango and I, there's nothing that can separate me from my son.

Part of God's identity is that he is a Father who pursues His children (Psalm 68:4-6) and is present in their lives. God, in His love, sent His son to die for our sins; reconciling us to the Father. In other words, because of the person and work of Jesus, we now have a relationship with the Father! As His children, we're called to reflect the same love that He has shown us so that others might come to know Him.

There's a myth among Christians that caring for orphans is reserved only for the "elite." However, I wish to submit to you that not only is that myth unbiblical, but the call to care for orphans is a command from the Scriptures (James 1:27). You and I know what it looks like to be rejected, broken, uncared for, unvalued, homeless, hurt, and in struggle. Yet, God in his grace, mercy, and love threw Himself into the chaos of our lives, rescuing us.

Earlier, in the same chapter, James writes to be doers of the Word not hearers only (James 1:22) and my observation is that the church equates pew attendance and Amen's to action. Church, we're deceiving ourselves if we consider hearing doing.

The Gospel

In the great state of Texas there are over 30,000 kids in foster care with more than 1,100 of those kids are in Hidalgo county. The need for families to come in and provide homes for these kids or temporary relief for foster parents (such as date nights) is increasing every year.

The opportunity to become involved in orphan care is numerous. You can start by simply getting informed, becoming certified as a babysitter or respite care provider, or taking the big step toward fostering and perhaps adopting a child.

I don’t want to guilt you, I do mean to challenge you. When we look first at the gospel — who God is and what He has done for us — then we are compelled into action, not to satisfy a moral checklist, but out of the overflow of gratitude for all that he has done. The call of the believer is founded under the work of the Gospel in our lives, for we, church, are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a dying world.