Ephesians 1:1-14: a reflection

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, 5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, 6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved. 7In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him. 11We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, 12to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. 13In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

As Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians, he pours out the blessings God has given us in Christ, and among them is one of astonishing intimacy: God has predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire. God has not merely forgiven us or made us his servants; he has adopted us as his own children, chosen us before the foundation of the world, made us his sons and daughters through Christ. We are not distant subjects but adopted children, brought into God's own family, chosen and adopted according to his good pleasure. The wonder of it is that God chose to make us his children, adopting us as his own.

Notice the intimacy of what God has done: he has adopted us as his own children. Paul does not say God has merely tolerated us, or made us his servants; he has adopted us as sons and daughters, chosen us before the foundation of the world, brought us into his own family through Christ. Adoption is an act of love, a choosing to make another one's own child; and God has done this for us, adopting us according to the good pleasure of his desire. We are God's children, not by nature but by his choosing, his adoption, his love. The wonder is that God wanted us as his children, and adopted us as his own. We belong to God's family, chosen and adopted by his love.

That is worth resting in, for God has chosen and adopted us as his own children, brought us into his family. We can think of ourselves as distant from God, at best his servants or subjects; but God has adopted us as his own children, chosen before the foundation of the world, brought into his family through Christ. We are God's children, adopted by his love, according to the good pleasure of his desire. Do not think of yourself as merely God's distant servant or subject; he has adopted you as his own child, chosen and brought into his family. Rest in the wonder that God has chosen and adopted you as his own child, according to the good pleasure of his desire, as Paul says he predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ; for God has not merely tolerated us but adopted us as his sons and daughters, bringing us into his own family by his love, and we who are his are God's own children, chosen and adopted according to his good pleasure.

Lord, as Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians, he pours out the blessings you have given us in Christ, and among them is one of astonishing intimacy: God has predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire. You have not merely forgiven us or made us your servants; you have adopted us as your own children, chosen us before the foundation of the world, made us your sons and daughters through Christ. We are not distant subjects but adopted children. Show me the intimacy of what you have done: you have adopted us as your own children. Paul does not say you have merely tolerated us, or made us your servants; you have adopted us as sons and daughters, chosen us before the foundation of the world, brought us into your own family through Christ. Adoption is an act of love, a choosing to make another one's own child; and you have done this for us, according to the good pleasure of your desire. We are your children, not by nature but by your choosing, your adoption, your love. The wonder is that you wanted us as your children. Let me rest in that, for you have chosen and adopted me as your own child, brought me into your family. I can think of myself as distant from you, at best your servant or subject; but you have adopted me as your own child, chosen before the foundation of the world, brought into your family through Christ. I am your child, adopted by your love. Keep me from thinking of myself as merely your distant servant or subject; you have adopted me as your own child, Lord. Help me rest in the wonder that you have chosen and adopted me as your own child, according to the good pleasure of your desire, as Paul says you predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ.