Two weeks ago, our friends traveled to Ethiopia to meet and bring home their newly adopted daughter. For a couple of years, our friends have prayed for little Lilia, saved thousands of dollars to pay the adoption expenses, and then waited months and months until they could welcome her into their life. But before they knew who would be their daughter and before they knew her name or face, they were already waiting for her. They wanted her.
In his Ephesians letter, the apostle Paul offers a long list of the myriad ways God has waited for us and desired us. In the original Greek, these verses (Ephesians 1:3-14) are one long, gushing sentence (more than 200 words). It’s as if Paul gets carried away with excitement and his words run off the page as he attempts to describe the extent of God’s love for us. Paul tells us that:
• God chose us “before He made the world” (Ephesians 1:4). For those of us who have always felt left out and never included, we can relish in the fact that we’ve been chosen. And we were chosen long before we took our first breath.
• God “decided in advance to adopt us” (Ephesians 1:5). For those of us who live with the constant fear that we will somehow bungle or mismanage God’s kindness, we can rest in God’s firm decision to love us. If we want Jesus, we will find He has already (and for a very long time) wanted us.
• God “has showered His kindness on us” (v.8). For those of us who have never felt another’s extravagant, I’m-crazy-about-you love, we can rejoice in the reality that God delights in us.
If you have never felt that you were truly wanted, know this: God wants you . . . more than you can imagine.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Kings 22:1–23:3
More:
Read again through these verses (vv.1-14), marking each word that expresses how God feels about you or the desires God has for you. What does this tell you about God’s character and heart?
Next:
When have you felt the least desired or wanted in your life? What does it feel like to be desired by God?
eppistle on April 27, 2011 at 6:10 am
As a father who has adopted two lovely girls, I know the joys and sacrifices of adoption. When we went to China to adopt our youngest daughter, it was during the SARS scare. What a joy to hold our daughter in our arms. Eleven days after we came back, I came down with a bad fever. I took a painful and costly test to find out if I had SARS. Thank God I didn’t. Sometimes being a father is difficult, but it’s nothing compared to the delight. I think that’s how God feels about adopting me into His family.
winn collier on April 27, 2011 at 6:39 am
what a story, eppistle. It’s a beautiful thing that you are showing these girls the Father’s love.
GChoo on April 27, 2011 at 7:24 am
Winn, thank you for today’s devotion, and pointing us to the scriptures to remind us the desires God had for us even before we received His salvation.
I am very grateful to know God when i was a teenager especially when i came from a family of idol worshipper. I have been disobedient over the years, not really relying on God’s Word but my own so-called ‘wise thinking’ to lead my life. However, by the grace of God, He has always pulled me back to His loving arms knowing that i am wanted by Him when i felt unwanted.
We truly need to be close to God’s Word because we are so of the world. We tend to feel unwanted when we meet with difficulty/problems or when we shower material things on our loved ones and others to make us feel wanted which does not satisfy the heart. Only God’s great love can satisfy our thirst to truly feel wanted and to offer our love to our loved ones and others. Amen.
winn collier on April 27, 2011 at 9:25 am
sounds like you have quite a story. Thank you for sharing of God’s faithfulness.
vrhorne on April 27, 2011 at 9:04 am
I don’t know I always seem amazed by God grace and mercy because He has never failed me even when it appears He has. I was just speaking with the Lord today telling him all about my strongholds and how I feel like I’m at a stand still but I grateful that He has not turn His back on me yet and I hope He never does. I get so excited to hear the word but living by it totally is one of my downfalls. I’m asking for prayer to release me from my strongholds that go away for a season and then return with the vegeance. I want to be free but my flesh won’t allow me! I just want to live by the Word with the same excitement I have when I hear the word! I thank you all in advance for your prayers!
winn collier on April 27, 2011 at 9:26 am
I believe the Cross and Resurrection declares for us and to us once and for all that God will not abandon us. Prayers for you…
Princess Sarah on April 27, 2011 at 11:11 am
I know how it feels vrhorne. Me too struggles in so many ways. I know how it feels when you wanted to break free but you are standing on a miry clay…and I know how it feels also to be in awe of how God has sustained me all a long. God’s grace is amazing. Just keep on. He wont let you down. Praying for you right now.
daisymarygoldr on April 27, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Vrhorne, I’m glad you see the truth that it is because of His grace and mercy God has never failed you even when it appears He has. Strongholds are lies that appear to be true. And it is we who believe the lie and continue to live under its bondage. If we want to be free, then all we have to do is—choose to believe the truth.
The truth is as you said He will never turn His back on you. God has promised He will never leave you nor forsake you and that He is with you always. The truth is Christians are adopted into God’s family. Now we no longer live us slaves to do what the flesh urges us to do. But remember, we cannot use the power of our weak flesh to live by the Word. We need a stronger power—the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead also gives us power to say no to our flesh. So, Vrhorne, next time when those strongholds return, attack those lies with the truth. Remind the flesh that it is dead and has no power over you. It is a daily battle. Been there and did that. You are in my prayers…
sugarsgone on September 13, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I was adopted as when I was 6 years old, my adopted mother died when I was ten, and for years I was mentally, physically and sexually abused, and wondered why or what was the use of adoption, but that was before I met Jesus, and since then my whole life has changed, I was once again adopted and have found the true sense of Love and caring for others. I am currently in the process of adopting 3 of my granchildren and it now means so, so much to me, being able to share with them the Love of God, and not be bitter of my Past..God is so wonderful…There is hope for thise who have been hurt! He heals the brokenhearted!
winn collier on September 13, 2011 at 8:17 pm
that is a powerful story, thank you.