Adoption is War...Spiritual War!

Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Throughout history we see Satan's relentless efforts to destroy children - abortion, divorce, slavery, sexual slavery, and the list goes on and on.  Russell Moore (author of Adopted for Life) says, "The protection of children isn't charity.  It isn't part of a political program fitting somewhere between tax cuts and gun rights or between carbon emission caps and a national service corps.  Its Spiritual Warfare!" 

Baby Home #3 in Astrakhan, Russia.  This is where Josiah and Jachin spent the first two years of their lives.

This truth was head knowledge for me until we stepped into a Russian courtroom.  I knew that there was a battle raging...sort of.  I knew that Satan's desire was to devour and destroy children..kinda.  But maybe, just maybe I didn't truly get it until Greg and I looked into those eyes, the eyes of a judge and prosecutor who seemed to desire to see our children languish and suffer in an orphanage, instead of hear the name of Jesus in a family.  We didn't set out to make war, but nevertheless, when we said "yes" to adoption the war became fierce. 

Adoption court in Russia typically lasts for about 2 hours.  Our first court hearing lasted about 5 hours total.
We had to stay an extra 3 1/2 weeks in Russia, and we went to court 5 times.  Ours is a very long story, and we love to share how God worked, but I will not go into the details at this time, in this post.  I will say that it was WAR!  We had to fight to get our boys home....BUT, we learned that the battle was not truly ours.  The battle was the Lord's!  It was intense; It was fierce; It was exhausting.   

When I look back at the years before our boys came home, I see other battles that I wish I had understood were part of the spiritual war for our children.  Oh Yes, Satan was trying to destroy us so that we would become ineffective for the Kingdom. 

My dear friends, I am writing this because I believe that God wants to use us, use you, in the lives of  "the least of these".  God is doing a work through the body of Christ at this time, in this day.  I believe that He is mobilizing the people of God to love the "Fatherless" like we have never seen before.  But when we say 'yes' to this call, we have willingly stepped into a war.  Are you willing to fight for these children?  Are you willing to stop seeking comfort, and make war?  Satan hates adoption, because it emulates what Christ has done for us, His adopted children. 

Adoption is not easy.  Don't be fooled into thinking that it will be all roses and butterflies.  Ahhh, but it is beautiful.  When I look at my Jachin & Josiah, I am reminded that a battle was won.  Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes."  (As parents, we should be mindful that the war is still present.  Every night before the boys go to bed we pray that evil would not prevail in their lives.  That God would protect them from the Evil One.)

James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
We are all called to ALL three things in that verse above - care for orphans, care for widows and keep from being polluted by the world.  Each one of those is eternally important!  When God shows you how you can care for an orphan, or especially, make a child an orphan no more, there will be many reasons to say "No".  You will have lots of "excuses" to choose from, and unfortunately, many Christians will support you in whatever excuse you choose to use.   Friend, there are millions of children around the world that Satan would like nothing more than for them to remains orphans.  Stand Up...Fight...God doesn't call us to comfort; He calls us to battle!  Join the forces in whatever way God is calling you to battle, but make no mistake, if you are a child of the King, you have been called.