Ephesians Devotionals
Bob Morris
The Blessings (Part 2: Adoption), Ephesians 1: 5
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
People make choices for a reason. In God’s case there was no necessity, no compulsion, no outside influences forcing his hand – only his love for us, his pleasure, his will. It all began with God, not us; it was a decision he made before we had a say in the matter. There is no possibility of arrogance on the part of those who are chosen, because they can take no credit for it.
Because of his love he arranged for our adoption as his own children, even when he already had an only and much beloved Son. Love and predestination are not self-contradictory. In our world, any decision taken without consultation is seen as a power grab, or a move to dominate, subjugate and control. It all too often is just that, but not so with God. He enjoys what he is doing - transferring us from our natural family to his own Triune family, just because he loves us.
In Paul’s understanding of predestination, it is only and always God who predestines. Neither fate nor cosmology, neither genes nor birth order, neither chance nor randomness determine our destiny; God does. And God is love (1 John 4: 8, 16). There is no hint of a puppeteer or computer programmer in God’s action – only love, in his motivation, in his method and in his purpose. Other gods men worship strike only fear in their hearts. Some mete out arbitrary justice and threaten punishment for wrong-doing. Our God chooses to adopt us as his own children, because he loves us.
I wish I could adequately describe the joy of adoption. I have two adopted sons and both of them know they are well-loved. They are no “accident” or “afterthought”; they were well planned for and awaited with keen anticipation. My wife and I agreed to adopt both of them before they were born, and were a bit uneasy when the hospital told us the decision could not be finalized until they were born and it was clear nothing was physically wrong with them. That was not part of our reckoning. We chose them and were prepared to accept them under any condition.
So it is with a loving Heavenly Father, except even more so. He knows us intimately because he created us and decided that he wanted us as his children. Ironically, the only way that could happen was by his giving up his one and only perfect Son for our sakes, while we were still his enemies (Romans 5: 10).
Adoption is one of the many blessings that are ours “through Jesus Christ”, but we have not yet entered into the full experience of it. As with so many aspects of our salvation, there is an element of “here but not yet”. We have been adopted, but “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons” when we fully realize our adoption in resurrected bodies (Romans 8: 23).
Eternal God and loving heavenly Father, thank you for loving us enough to claim us as your own, even to the point of sacrificing your own Son for us. May we share your pleasure, gladly do your will and be quick to share your love.
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