Chosen

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
CHOSEN
Eph 1:4-7
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
NIV
He chose me, at least that is what a lot of people would have me to believe, but I know that is not the whole of this statement. He chose me before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Now I think if I stopped there, I might be tempted to believe I have no say as to if I am holy and blameless. But I cannot stop there because the next phrase is the key to the whole of it. In love he predestined me to be adopted as his son through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. Now I can grab a hold of this to the fullest. God decided before the creation of the earth, because of his foreknowledge, knowing that I would sin and not be able to be holy and blameless on my own, he would adopt me as his son through Christ Jesus dying on that cross. This is what he predestined to happen. He knew all alone I could not live holy and blameless. He knew all along that he would satisfy his own need for justice. He knew all along that it would take Jesus to make me a son, of this I am sure. This brings him the praise for his glorious grace. This is what it is all about, at least for me. He has freely given me his grace in Jesus, who he loves. The story is not about me being chosen. The story is about Jesus. He is the chosen!