“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved.”- Ephesians 1:5-6
“He meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw our life from His smile.”- A. W. Tozer
Max Lucado begins Chapter 10 (“Chosen Children”) of Grace with commentary on Genesis 32:22-32 (Jacob Wrestles with God). Pastor Lucado takes special note of Jacob’s request for a blessing from God (v. 26) at the conclusion of their all-night wrestling match. Essentially, the author states, Jacob was asking if he mattered to God.
Adversity like our ministry downsizing or vocation loss most likely has us wondering the same thing. The temptation is to believe that we don’t matter to God. When we buy into this untruth, Max astutely observes that we attempt to “validate our existence with a flurry of activity.”
Grace is God’s definitive reply that we are His chosen, adopted children- dearly beloved. We can be confident that God never will let us go. Max describes what is means to live as God’s child:
“To live as God’s child is to know, at this very instant, that you are loved by your Maker. . . . You can no more make him want you than you can convince him to abandon you. The adoption is irreversible. You have a place at his table.”
Today’s question: During your desert, land between time, what has helped you affirm the truth that you are beloved of God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “When hope flickers”