Sheri’s family waited for her for a long time with great anticipation. What’s more, the whole community around her family anticipated her adoption and prayed for her every day. As she grew up, Sheri was constantly reminded that she fully belonged to her family and to her community. She was part of her community from the very beginning. She was raised as a full-fledged daughter of her parents and as a full member of her community. If she ever began to question that, the community rallied around her to assure her that she was completely and totally theirs.

The apostle Paul uses the Roman concept of adoption to describe our relationship to God. Adoption in the Roman culture was total and complete. The adoptee was a full child and heir. No distinction was made after the adoption was finalized. Paul uses that analogy for us so that we can understand we are completely and totally God’s sons and daughters.

Community is the same way. Not only are we completely daughters and sons of God belonging to him, but we also belong to each other as children of God and siblings of Christ. Community is where we belong as adopted sons and daughters of God!