In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Ephesians 1:5 NIV
It is really hard to comprehend all that God has done for us.
- Blessed in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:3).
- Chosen before creation to be holy and blameless in His sight (Eph. 1:4).
- Predestined for adoption (Eph. 1:5).
- Redeemed with the blood of Jesus (Eph. 1:7).
- Forgiven of our sins (Eph. 1:7).
- Sealed with the Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14).
Why did He do all of this for us? It was in accordance with His pleasure and will. He wanted to. And He chose to do all of this for us. He did not have to. And He did not do it grudgingly. Rather, it gave Him great pleasure to redeem us and bring us into His family.
It can be easy to picture God as demanding and judgmental, requiring us to live a certain way. And indeed, He does expect us to live in a way that is holy and righteous. Or you might picture God as remote and impersonal, distant from your daily life and struggles. And while the Bible does describe Him as enthroned in the heavens above, He does care deeply about all that happens in this world and the lives of His people.
But how often do we stop to consider that God takes great pleasure in us? Much like a parent takes pleasure in experiencing the birth and development of their child, so God takes pleasure in our birth into His family and our development as His child. Our Abba (daddy) loves us beyond our ability to comprehend. Not because we are worthy in any way. But because He is love (1 John 4:8-10).
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
