To select, or take up and use as our own ...

To select ...

A verb can be passive or active ...and this is an active verb, describing the verb 'adopt'.

We can adopt ideas.

We can adopt values.

We can nearly adopt our entire outlook on life.

The greatest adoption is that which is described in the Book of Romans and the Book of Ephesians.

" ...Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

" ...Unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His Will."

It should also be considered how we respond to our adoption, as it may make a world of difference ...and whether we feel more a part of this world, or apart from this world.

Two examples come to mind ...both from the TV series, Little House on the Prairie.

And it is not just the persons themselves, but the families who adopted them ...and the expectations that go along with the different approaches of family life.

One example, is Albert, who was adopted by the Ingalls family.

The other example, is Nancy, who was adopted by the Olsen family.

Let me list a few characteristics of Albert first:

• Grateful for the adoption
• Wanting to please his adoptive father
• Generally polite and mannerly
• Hard worker
• Willing to admit wrongdoing

Now, here are a few characteristics of Nancy:

• Feel she's had a difficult start in life, and is owed a comfortable life
• Wanting to please self
• Not polite and mannerly
• Tries to get out of any work
• When confronted about a wrong, she says, "You just hate me!"

Now, it seems to me that our society is split.

There are countless groups of people of countless descriptions ...some of which we could say don't know any better, if we don't like to use the word ignorant.  But, within the group which we would say should know better, it is not an easy split either.  They say no two snowflakes are the same ...and it is a fairly accurate description of many of us also.

So, though this is not all inclusive ...we can still reason that we are able to at least discuss the divide.

We have those who know what is right ...and are intolerant of those who aren't in the right.

We have Alberts ...who have been through it and understand, yet still know the right thing and try to stand with it.  The Alberts can talk to the less tolerant and help them understand, and perhaps soften a bit.

There are those who know what is right, and don't care ...because they are self-absorbed, and take to the extreme the old adage, "You've got to look out for #1."  They are the Nancy Olsens ...and they have a very dominant Harriet for a mom.  As it takes someone in your corner to be truly effective to enough to convince yourself worthy of the game.  They are often in denial.

And there are those who probably know better, but are of the previous group ...yet, take it a step further by finding it advantageous to redefine that which is right, to suite their needs.  They often don't deny ...but, point the finger at what others do, and try to justify by stirring up cohorts to quite disturbing stratagem. 

Yet, in saying our society is split ...it is saying the way we function and get along as a society, that often gets in the way of how we can function towards promoting the Kingdom of God.

It is not to say who is going to be welcomed into Heaven ...it addresses more how we endure here on earth.

Lucifer and all the angels had the same decision that we have ...we just have a different time frame in which to decide.  It's who we choose to follow that matters ...not how well we follow.

The bottom line is ...we all have to choose.

But, it's best not to go to the bottom to choose.