[God] planned . . . that we should
be adopted as his own children.
—Ephesians 1:5
Eloise sits on the edge of her four-year-old’s bed and says: “If I could have my pick of all the girls in the world, when I saw you I’d say, ‘She’s the one I want.’ You’d be the one I’d choose to be my daughter.”
I have a friend who was adopted. When asked how he feels about this, he says, “I feel special; they wanted to adopt a child; there were many to choose from; they chose me.”
You are special. God pointed at you and said, “I want that one.” He chose and adopted you. Let this sink in: “[God] chose us before the creation of the world . . . He destined us for adoption as his children” (Eph 1: 4, 5).
Respond to this amazing grace with adoring gratitude.
God chose you a long time
before you chose him.