I've Been Chosen

Before the first star lit up in the sky, before the oceans shaped their boundaries on the earth, and before any living creature drew a breath— you were chosen. This powerful truth lies at the core of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, written around 60-62 AD while he was under house arrest. The message he wrote then still resonates strongly today: God has chosen you to be His child.

Serving Because We're Called

The foundation of our Christian walk rests on a simple yet transformative truth: we serve because God has called us. This isn't about our qualifications, our résumés, or our past achievements. It's about aligning our lives with the divine will that existed before creation itself.

But here's where it gets practical. How do we know God's will? The answer is simpler than we might think, though it requires discipline. Reading Scripture isn't just a religious exercise—it's the primary way we understand what God desires for our lives. Whether you read one verse or ten chapters, consistency matters more than quantity. Start somewhere. Start small. The important thing is to start.

Prayer complements this reading, but not just the kind where we present our wish list and rush off to our day. True prayer includes silence—waiting, listening, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak into our hearts. When we pair Scripture reading with genuine prayer and Bible study, we position ourselves to hear God's voice clearly.

Living outside God's will is simply called sin. It's rebellion against the One who created us for His purposes. Yet how gracious is our God that even in our wandering, He continues to call us back, continues to use His Word to transform us, and continues to invite us into a relationship with Him.

Every Spiritual Blessing Is Yours

Consider this staggering reality: because of Jesus Christ, God has withheld no spiritual blessing from us. Read that again. No spiritual blessing has been kept from those who belong to Christ.

We have the Holy Spirit as our guide and helper, a divine GPS navigating us through life's complexities. We have full access to the throne of God—not through appointments or background checks, but through the blood of Jesus. In ancient kingdoms, approaching a king uninvited could mean death. Yet we can boldly approach the King of Kings without fear or shame.

We have complete forgiveness, total freedom from sin's penalty, and eternal life secured. The power and authority Jesus possesses, He has given to us. When we pray, when we bind and loose, when we speak truth in His name, heaven responds. The local church could transform communities if we truly walked in the authority God has already granted us.

These blessings aren't just future promises waiting for heaven. They're present realities we can experience now. However, even at their best, our current experiences are merely shadows of what awaits us. Try to imagine your best day ever, then multiply it by infinity—and you still won't capture the glory of eternity with God.

The Mystery of Being Chosen

Perhaps the most profound spiritual blessing is this: before God spoke the universe into existence, He chose you. Before the first atom formed, before angels sang their first hymn, before humanity drew its first breath—you were on God's heart.

This leads us into the deep waters of predestination, a concept that has sparked theological debate for centuries. Some argue God has already chosen who will be saved, making evangelism unnecessary. Others say God simply knew who would choose Him, so it's not really a choice at all.

The truth? Both perspectives contain elements of reality, but they miss the main point. Predestination means "to determine or decree beforehand." God determined before creation to adopt us as His children. He decreed it would happen. Whether He chose specific individuals or simply knew who would respond to His call, the central truth remains: He decided to make us family.

The Radical Nature of Adoption

Understanding adoption helps us grasp what God has done. When earthly parents adopt, they don't know exactly what they're getting. But God knows every detail about us—every cell, every thought, every failure, every dream. He knows the worst about us, and He still says, "I choose you."

Jesus is God's Son by nature, sharing the divine essence. We become children only through adoption and grace. Yet Scripture declares we are co-heirs with Christ. Everything Jesus inherits, we inherit. Every privilege He enjoys, we share. The rights, the status, the eternal glory—it all belongs to us as adopted children of God.

This isn't about earning our place or proving our worth. The adoption papers have already been signed in the blood of Jesus. The price has been paid. God stands before us today, asking the question every adoption requires: "Will you be My child?"

Responding to the Invitation

This isn't a passive theological concept to be admired from a distance. It's an active invitation requiring a response. God has chosen you, but the choice to accept that adoption is yours to make.

For those who have never said yes to this divine adoption, today is the day. God isn't looking at your past failures or current struggles. He's looking at you with the eyes of a Father who desperately wants you in His family.

For those who have already been adopted into God's family, this truth should transform how we live. We are chosen children of the Most High God. We carry His name, His authority, His Spirit within us. We have access to every spiritual blessing. We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ.

Live like it. Pray like it. Serve like it. Love like it.

You are not an accident. You are not forgotten. You are not too far gone. Before time began, you were chosen. The question is: will you choose Him in return?