Ephesians 1:3-6
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Greg’s nephew, John, and his wife, Leslie, are expecting their second child soon. They planned for this child, just as they planned for their 3½-year-old daughter, Kelsey. They have spent weeks attending pre-natal checkups and “Big Sister” classes and getting the new baby’s room ready. They already know that this baby will be a girl, and they will call her Ellie. They have Ellie on their mind…she is already the focus of their love, and they cannot wait to welcome her into their family.
John and Leslie will adore their children…and like most people, I am sure they have wondered how they will ever love another child as much as their first. But when Ellie is placed in their arms for the first time, they will understand the capacity to love more than one child with your whole heart.
Now, picture yourself as God’s child. Imagine that you are one of millions of God’s children! How could He ever focus on you? How could God love you with His whole heart…and have the capacity to love others the same way? Yet, He does exactly that! God loves you with reckless abandon…full throttle…all in…lavishly…unconditionally…and thoughtfully. He planned for your birth and has a design for your every breath! You matter to God…more than you can ever realize – and more than you will ever matter to any human being! Does God play favorites? Absolutely…YOU are His favorite…I am His favorite…we are ALL God’s favorites! He gave the ultimate sacrifice…Jesus Christ…who died on the cross for each of us!
I know how much our great-niece, Kelsey, loves her mom and dad. I am certain that Ellie will love them, too. She will be delighted to belong to such a blessed family…and they will bless her in return. I pray that she will enjoy a long and joyful relationship with her parents and Kelsey (and with any future siblings who may be born), and that they will always be a close-knit family filled with love and devotion for one another.
God wants this sort of relationship with each of us. He longs for us to be close to Him…to seek His companionship…and to keep Him squarely planted in our hearts at all times. He is available 24/7/365…just for this purpose. All we have to do is turn and recognize Him. Just think of it…the God who planned for you, longed for your arrival, and designed every heartbeat of your existence wants to be an integral part of your life – on this earth and for all Eternity! Don’t you want to be part of His?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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