You’re Already Chosen and Loved
By Rick Warren
"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)
Every person wants these three things—more than anything else: to be loved, to be accepted, and to be chosen.
These longings are there even in people unwilling to admit it.
But there’s good news: You don’t have to look anymore for love and acceptance. You’re already chosen, loved, and accepted by Jesus Christ.
Everyone wants to be chosen—from your childhood days at recess to your adult workplaces and love life. Being chosen is key to establishing your self-worth.
The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4-5, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure" (NLT).
God created the entire universe because he wanted a family. The whole reason the universe exists is because God wanted children to love.
According to this verse, when did God choose you? God chose you before the world was made!
Before God chose to create the universe, he had already chosen you. In fact, that's why he decided to make the universe. He wanted a place where you could live. Before God chose any tree, he chose you. Before God chose the oceans, he chose you. Before God chose every rock that exists, he chose you.
That’s an amazing thought—that even before he chose to create the sun and moon and stars, God knew you and chose to love you. That is the foundation of your identity.
Nobody wants to be chosen last. But you have never been last in God’s thoughts. You have always been first on his mind. He chose you, he loves you, and he accepts you. You can rest in these truths today.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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