"In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will."

Ephesians 1:4b-5

Why does God love His people? Ephesians 1 says simply because He wanted to love us! Not because He needed us. Not because we had something to offer Him or could be useful to Him. He loves His own simply because He wanted to! Which is very different from the way love works in our world. Perhaps you love pizza. But what happens to your love when you go to get a slice, and it has toppings you dislike? Maybe you loved math in kindergarten, but then upper school math changed your love for the subject. Love in our world can ebb and flow. But that is why God's love is so amazing. It is steadfast and unchanging! He doesn't love His people based on anything in them or anything they could do for Him. But simply because He chose to love us!

God's Choice to Love a People for Himself

That is what 'predestined' gets at in verse 5. God predetermined to love a people to Himself. He chose beforehand to set His love on a people. Which means He loves you because He loves you! Not because of what you can do for Him, neither now nor in the future! In fact, He loved us while we were His enemies! He loved us while we still hated Him and lived for ourselves! He loved us while we were lost in sin and death, separated from Him and from one another! But God predestined to love His people and make us His very own children.

Adopted by Love into Christ

When you hear the word 'Christian', what comes to mind? Someone who goes to church? A person who believes certain things? The answer verse 5 gives is someone God adopted. Being a Christian isn't first about what you do, but who you are because of God's amazing love. And God's love for you becomes more amazing the more you realize that apart from Him freely choosing to love you, you would be an orphan. You would, as Ephesians 2:12 says, have no hope and be without God in this world. But God adopted you through Jesus Christ!

May God's love fill you with wonder for not only was Jesus born to save His people from their sins, but to also bring us into His family forever!