“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:3-8 NLT

I read this and knew I needed to write. However, as I picked up my pen, I thought, “Maybe I should see how the message version words it.” I read the message version, and decided the NLT was my favorite. Until I read this verse:

“He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved son.”

Seriously? If you didn’t read the previous blog post before this one, go do that. And then see why I felt so speechless by the wording of this verse. It almost doesn’t even fit. As if God said, “I want to reinforce what I said to you yesterday, just in case you weren’t sold.”

I love so much that the Bible refers to us as being “adopted” and not simply “born into” the family. Being adopted insinuates being chosen or taken in. And He didn’t choose to take us in once He saw us hopelessly messing up; so desperately in need. No. His decision was “before the creation of the world” and “in advance”. It was planned. Your adoption, as a legal son or daughter of God, was planned in God’s heart before the world was spoken into existence.

…so that He could lavishly (without limits) bless us with His rich gifts of kindness and mercy.

Dear Child,

When I say that I chose you, it is not just a comforting phrase put in my Word to make you feel less lost. You were chosen in the most active sense of the word. Bought with the highest price. And you were not adopted so that I could have control of you. It’s quite the opposite. I wanted you so that you could know true freedom. So that I could eternally pour out my kindness on you. I love you with a love that knows no end; no bounds. I created you to do good works, with good plans in mind, yes. These are true. 

But more than what I created you to do – I crated you first of all to BE.

To be mine. To let your identity as my heir to be more than enough. That I have chosen you, simply because my heart loves yours. You’ve lost sight of the simplicity of why you are where you are. Of why you are who you are. 

You are not forgotten. Your life is not confusing. Your purpose is not vague. I don’t love you because of what you do well. No. I love you because I chose you. Because I want to.

Let that be enough for today.

Love,

Your Creator