DAILY DEVOTION, Sept. 29, 2021

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will  (Ephesians 1:5).

Predestination is a scary word for many Christians. What does it mean? I believe It means that God predetermined a plan. That plan revolves around His Son, Jesus. It is God’s will that all who trust in Jesus are adopted into the family of God. By faith, we are set free from our old father (Satan). As Christians, we have all the rights and privileges that belong to God’s children.

Some understand predestination to mean that God predetermined who would be saved and who would be lost.  Then He acted to convert those predestined to salvation while ignoring the lost. I don’t like that idea, but I respect those who hold it. I believe God predestined a plan to save all those who would trust in His Son. When we hear the Gospel (the good news) and place our trust in Jesus, our Messiah, and Savior, God receives us as sons/daughters. It is the plan that is predestined, not the people.

Why adopted? Are we not all children of God? No, we are not! We are born into this world with an inclination to do our own thing, ignoring God.  We become children of God by adoption when we trust in Jesus. What a blessing it is to know that we are in God’s family.

Father, I thank You for adopting me as Your child. I confess that before I received Jesus, my life was a mess. Thank You for loving me and forgiving me. Thank You for Jesus who did everything necessary to make me into Your child. In His name, I pray, Amen.