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LOVED AND CARED FOR

Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son.  – Ephesians 1:4-6 (NLT)

            To know that before this world was created God already loved us is awe-inspiring. To be the focus of God’s thoughts, His kindness, and His affection is to be honored well beyond anything that we could possibly deserve. And then when we realize that we have become God’s own children, adopted into His family through His Son, it is enough to make us shout for joy and dance in the streets. We are loved and cared for. Through God’s wonderful grace we are invited to celebrate with Him our newfound status as children of God.

            It is only when we recognize this standing that we become fully human.  We were created to be in relationship with God and only when that relationship is consummated through faith in Jesus Christ are we made whole. In coming to Christ we are returning to God’s plan for our lives and it is in the journey home that we experience the full breadth of God’s love.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, I don’t deserve this love of Yours. But I accept it and treasure it.