“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

The pastor was beginning his new series in the book of Ephesians. The worship service was rich that morning with beautiful hymns and choruses that spoke about our great God. Just before the pastor preached, a quartet sang of the greatness of His grace and mercy, recounting the joy that came in trusting the Lord Jesus for salvation. Now the church family was seated. They opened their Bibles and were ready to take notes on the message that Sunday. The pastor came to Ephesians 1:5-6 where Paul reminds us that we Christians were chosen in Him before the world was created. The pastor explained that God had decided ahead of time that He would adopt us as His very own children in Christ Jesus. All of this was according to the good pleasure of His will. Pastor’s message was applied in a pointed and powerful way after the morning service. Several of the children had gathered in the foyer. As Randy approached the group, he was not treated very kindly. Randy had been a foster child for years, and recently was adopted by the Perkins family. Sometimes even in church children can be cruel to each other. Some of the church children looked down on Randy and found it hard to include him in their circle of friends. Randy quietly said to them, “Well all I can say is that your parents were stuck with you. My parents chose me to be part of their family!” So it is with our Heavenly Father. He was not stuck with us. He chose us! Come back tomorrow, and we will think a little more about being adopted.

For today: Chosen and adopted by our great and awesome Father. I am delighted to be part of His family. How about you?