Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4
What comes to mind when I say P.E. class? Maybe you think of your favorite sport to play or your friends who were in your class at school. For me, I think about kickball. Specifically, I think about choosing teams for kickball. As I remember choosing teams for kickball in grade school, my mind immediately starts to panic. Maybe you were one of the first people to be picked for a team during your P.E. class, but I was not. Even though I understood that I was far from the most athletic person in my class, I still could not help but feel a little bit rejected when I was one of the last to be picked to join a kickball team. I did not feel chosen or wanted. Even as a child, rejection stings. It also stings as an adult. If you, too, have experienced the feeling of being rejected, I have good news for you: God has already chosen you to be His child and a part of His family. In fact, He chose you from the very beginning.
The apostle Paul began the book of Ephesians by reminding readers that God chose them. In this chapter, he wrote, “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). Take a moment to dwell on the remarkable truth found in this passage of Scripture. “Before God made the world,” we were on His mind. Not only were we on His mind before He made the world, we were also loved by God before He made the world. He loved us before we even existed. He loved us, knowing that we would break His heart by sinning. He loved us knowing the price Jesus would pay one day on a cross to rescue us from sin and death. Even more, God chose us in Christ before He made the world. That truth, my friend, means that you have always been wanted and even chosen to be His child. Make no mistake: you are a wanted, chosen, and loved child of God.
The truth that we are chosen in Christ reminds me of the words of Jesus in John 15:16: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” Jesus confirmed in this passage of Scripture that we are chosen. What did He choose us to do? He chose us "to go and produce lasting fruit." What is lasting fruit? Lasting fruit is the result of living a life that honors God and points people to Christ by the way we live our lives. This fruit impacts the world for Christ.
Because you are wanted, chosen, and loved by God. you have a purpose. In light of this truth, your call is to live with that purpose in mind: to produce lasting fruit that points straight to your Creator, the One who chose you and loved you from the very beginning.
Write Ephesians 1:4 down on a notecard. Place that notecard somewhere where you will see it often. Whenever you see the notecard, reflect on the truth from Ephesians 1:4 that you are wanted, even chosen. Let that truth give you a sense of belonging and strength with every step you take.
John 15:1-16
1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
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