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. Ephesians 1:4-5
One thing that makes Christianity different from other religions is that God is relational. None of the false gods of other religions care about having relationships with their people. God, however, is incredibly different. God not only wants to have a relationship with us, but He also went to great lengths so that we could have a relationship with Him. Despite everything we have done, He chooses to have a relationship with each one of us if we have placed our faith in Him.
The apostle Paul made it clear throughout all of His writing that God is a relational God, and one of the places He wrote about it was Ephesians 1. Paul teaches that “even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes” (verse 4). From the beginning of time, God chose us. Not only that, but Paul wrote that God decided “in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ” (verse 5). God did not only choose us but brought us into His family so that we could have a relationship with Him. From the beginning of time, God wanted to have a relationship with us. He is not a God who is distant. In fact, when we were lost in sin and living in rebellion against Him, He came to us by sending Jesus to die on a cross. He did all of this so that we could have the opportunity to have a relationship with Him.
My friend, you are chosen by God. No other person has or ever will love you as He loves you. Relationships, however, are a two-way street. We have to take steps to have a relationship with Him. We have to talk to Him. We have to listen to Him and what He says in His word. We have to talk to others about Him and our faith. So how can you take steps to deepen your relationship with Him today?
Take a few minutes to think about your relationship with Him. How do you want to take steps to grow in your relationship with Him? Maybe you want to grow by spending more time praying, or maybe you want to begin the New Testament reading plan in the Sagebrush App. Whatever the case, take a step to grow in your relationship with Him. After all, He loves you so much and wants to have a relationship with you.
Ephesians 1:1-8 (NLT)
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 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. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
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