October 7, 2015 – Ephesians 1:3-4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:3-4If there is no more reason than God loves and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes….I will praise Him.  Do you remember the feeling on the playground when captains chose their teams, and you were the last to be chosen?  That feeling of not being wanted or needed because you are not an asset is not what our Lord God conveys.  We are wanted.  We are needed.  We are challenged.  And more than anything — we are loved as only God can love.So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.  Romans 5:11.  Through Jesus we are friends with God.  We are adopted into the Family of God with pleasure.  God pours out his glorious grace that belongs to Jesus.  He purchased our freedom from sin through the very blood of His One and Only Son.  He forgives us – over and over.  He showers kindness on us with all wisdom and understanding.Is it any wonder that I praise Him?  Is it any wonder that I love Him?  Is it any wonder that I live for Him?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. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:5-8