Verse: Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV)
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Thoughts
You have been chosen. God wants you on His team, in His family, and in His home. God thinks of you like a sports team thinks of its number one draft pick. He adores us, calling each one of us His children and giving us an amazing inheritance in His family. We are God’s treasure – God loves us even more than how we cherish our favorite piece of décor that we picked for our home, or a new technology that we hold. He wants to interact with us as His children in the home that He makes in our heart, and some day in heaven. At home with Him, we have peace and joy. Being chosen by God is reassurance for us.

In these verses, Paul informs us that God, through His predestination, has been thinking about us, valuing us, and loving us way before we had a single thought about Him. We also learn that we need not worry – He has a plan, and a great one at that. We don’t have to have everything figured out. His plan and the intention and purpose of His will are good for us. That’s encouragement that we need when we are wondering who we are, what our next step will be, and if anyone cares.

Amid everything that swirls around us, we find our hope in Jesus Christ, as verse 12 points out. Just like Jesus went through terrible trials and was raised back to life and back to glory with God our Father, God has the same plan for us. He will bring us through our tough times. Each time He does, it is the result of His plan and His good will for us. He shows us how He loves us and how great He is – and that is His amazing glory, which leads us to praise Him. One day we will see His glory in person. For now, we experience His glory in our hearts and we see His glory in the amazing world He has created around us – through the wind, the awe of the sunset, and very soon, in the new growth coming in the spring.

Prayer
Father, thank you for treasuring us and calling us your children. Thank you for the peace that we have in knowing that you care about us and have a good plan for us. Thank you for the hope that we have in the love and salvation that Jesus gave to us. You are glorious and we praise you! Amen.

Author: Chris Fraser