April 15th | Chosen in Love
A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS
CHOSEN IN LOVE
Ephesians 1:4-6 “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.”
About a year prior to his death in a German prison for his opposition to Hitler, German theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a short poem titled “Who Am I?” As he struggled with his identity and the meaning of his life. He ended the poem, “Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, thou knowest me; O God, I am thine!? (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 8, by Fortress Press)
St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:4-6, ““For (God) chose us in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” A devout Christian, Bonhoeffer knew these words of St. Paul. He knew he was God’s child by adoption.
Sometimes you may struggle with who you are. You may be unsure where you belong. You may feel like the last child chosen when two teams are formed on the playground. The truth is by God’s grace through His adoption, you are His son or daughter. In today’s devotional verses St Paul writes that you are adopted by God, made His heir, given the right to be named by God, and, to inherit God’s identity. Along with Bonhoeffer in his poem “Who am I?” you can say with confidence, “Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!”
“In love” God chose to adopt you “to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” (Ephesians 1:5) “But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:4-7)
Prayer: Lord, when I struggle with my identity, help me to always remember I am Your child and You are my Father through Jesus Christ, Your Son, My Lord. Amen.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not: Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Refrain:
Refrain: Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Refrain:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain:
(LSB 809)