March 1: He Chose You!

Scripture
“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 own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 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 1:4-8 NLT

Before the foundation of the world, before you had done anything right or wrong, God loved you. He chose you in Christ. Not reluctantly. He decided in advance to adopt you into His family. Then Paul tells us something amazing: this gave Him great pleasure.

What would change if we actually believed that? So many believers live as if they are barely accepted, feeling like they are disappointing God, and trying to earn what has already been freely given. But Scripture tells us that adoption was God’s idea. It was His desire. He wanted you. He paid the highest price imaginable, the blood of His Son, to bring you home.

As J. I. Packer wrote, “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child.”¹ Adoption is not a side note in the gospel. It is the heart of it. We are not merely forgiven criminals. We are welcomed sons and daughters. And the Father delights in us.

He is rich in kindness and grace. He hasn’t rationed it out carefully. He has showered it upon us. And the same God who chose and adopted us also gives us wisdom and understanding to live as His children in this world. So today, do not live as an orphan trying to prove yourself. Live as a beloved child. Rest in His pleasure. Walk in His grace. And let your gratitude rise into praise.

Reflection
1. Do you truly believe that God chose and adopted you out of love and pleasure, or do you still relate to Him as if you must earn His acceptance?

2. In what ways do you tend to live like an orphan rather than a beloved son or daughter?

3. How would your daily choices change if you were deeply secure in God’s kindness and grace toward you?

Prayer
Thank the Father for choosing and adopting you through Christ. Ask Him to expose any orphan-thinking that still lingers in your heart. Pray for the grace to live today as a secure, grateful child who reflects His love to others.

Footnote
¹ J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 201.