Chosen (Eph. 1:4-6) - Kevin P. Larson

We had a few technical difficulties this week, but here is this past Sunday's sermon, one on election. The audio and manuscript are both found below. Although this is a very challenging topic, I did feel pretty good about this one. However, one point of clarification I wanted to make about something I say: if you doubt you're chosen and, after inspection, don't see the work of God in your life, call out to Him. Don't consign yourself to hell. Run hard toward heaven.

Chosen (Ephesians 1:4-6)  |  02.28.16  |  Kevin P. Larson

Have you ever felt unwanted? Were you the last kid picked on the playground? I sure was most of the time - regardless of how well I played. Maybe you’re single and see no prospects in sight. I was single until 29. Maybe you have gotten passed over for job after job. I’ve felt that, too.

Or maybe you just feel aimless. Like you have no purpose. As if you’re going nowhere. I definitely felt that way the first half of my twenties, at least. Well, I have hope for you today. I have some encouragement for you. God has chosen a people. That people has a glorious destiny before them. And that includes you, if you believe.

Now that shouldn’t surprise us, if we think about it. The Lord rescued this man Abraham and promised to bless Him in big ways. He made his children, the nation of Israel, His chosen people. His plan was to bless the world through them. Take a look at Exodus 19 with me.

Ex. 19:1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

Ex. 19:2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,

Ex. 19:3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:

Ex. 19:4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Ex. 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Ex. 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

The Lord made Israel His treasured people for His special purposes. They didn’t get there on their own. God did it. He destroyed their enemies. He carried them to Himself. The Lord chose a people.

We see that reality in the Old Testament, but we also see it applied to the church in the New - and especially here in Ephesians. We’ll focus on verses 4 through 6 of chapter one today - along with a few quick looks at verse 11. We’ll see that we’re chosen. And that’s a key aspect of our identity. We’re blessed. This is the first way we see we are. I’m going to walk us through these verses word-by-word this morning. And it’s my hope that you’ll be encouraged by them.

Verse 4: “He chose us in Him.” HE chose us. Who’s that? It’s the Father. As Bobby said last week, we see Trinitarian glory - in this really long, Greek sentence here. The Trinity refers to one God in three persons, each who is equally God. But it doesn’t mean that the persons don’t have different roles. And that’s what we see here. The Holy Spirit applies salvation to us - that’s in verses 13-14. The Son accomplishes salvation for us - that’s in verses 7-10. The Father plans salvation for us. That’s what we see right here.

Now maybe you grew up with a Father who rejected you. Maybe your family told you that you were headed nowhere. If you’re a believer, you have a Father in heaven, and He treasures you.

It says, He CHOSE us. He picked you. He singled you out. He didn’t have to, but He did. He elected us. Piper points out that this word in verse 4 emphasizes God’s freedom. “He chose us.” The word used in verses 5 and 11 emphasizes God’s goal. “He predestined us for adoption as sons.” That’s verse 5. We’ve been “predestined according” His purpose. That’s verse 11. The Lord has picked us. He’s given us a destiny. And it’s a pre-destiny. More on that in a bit. But let that soak in for a bit. The Lord wants you. He has a plan for you.

He chose US. He picked you and me and the rest who believe. Out of all the people in the world, He chose you and me. Let that sink in for a bit. He didn’t have to choose us. He could have chosen others. And that would have been His divine prerogative. He would have been totally just.

He chose us as individuals. But this also reminds us of something: He meant for us to be a part of a community. We’re not meant to be alone. Again - listen to the intro sermon if you missed it - the mystery isn’t just that we’re united with Christ. It’s that we’re united with one another in Christ. And that’s an awesome thing.

Maybe you’ve been rejected. Maybe you feel like you’re going nowhere. Here is a family where you can be accepted - not because you have everything in common with them. Because they’re determined to love as the Father has loved. And this is a family that has a purpose. We’re going somewhere. We live for the greatest purpose the world has known.

He chose us IN HIM. We’re still in verse 4. We’ve themed his series, “The Beautiful Mystery.” Again, that mystery is that we’re in union with Christ Jesus. As awesome of a mystery that marriage is, it pales in comparison to this union we have with Jesus. The Father chose us to experience this union with Jesus. It comes through the work of Jesus on the cross for us.  Jesus is the “him” here.

Now some have tried to say that God’s election goes something like this. Sometimes they point to this verse. They say God chooses Jesus and everyone who’s in Him gets saved. It’s like Jesus is driving this bus, and everyone who jumps on gets to come along. And we determine if we’re on the bus. Now I don’t think that works. It doesn’t say God chooses Jesus here. It says He chooses us. And I don’t know how the words “in Him” can carry all of that freight. But there’s another problem. Look at 1 Corinthians 1 with me, beginning in verse 27:

1 Cor. 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Did you catch that? Verse 30: “Because of him you are in Christ Jesus.” And why is that the case? It’s so “the one who boasts” will “boast in the Lord.” 

Now we’ll come back to that idea, but here’s the main point. It’s only because of the Father that we’re in Jesus. And that comes through the work Jesus. And it’s for a relationship with Jesus. Maybe you feel like much isn’t going right for you. You are in Him. Thank you, Father!

He chose us in him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. Let’s go back to what I said about the Trinity earlier. The Spirit applies salvation to us in time. Jesus died on the cross in time. But the Father’s plan happened before time began. In eternity past, the Father devised a plan where the Son and the Spirit would do these things for us. Where we would be one with Christ.

Many of us in Karis are having kids now - even second and third kids. You get everything ready for their coming. The baby room. The clothes and supplies. And you have all these hopes and dreams for their future. Can you believe that the Father had things in mind about you? Even before creation? Revelation 13:8 speaks of “everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” If you’re a believer, you were in that book. His Son had died in His mind. In His mind, we were already His. So marvelous and mind-blowing and hard to comprehend!

We’ve seen WHO does this - the Father. We’ve seen WHAT He’s done. He’s chosen us. We’ve seen WHO He’s chosen. That’s us. We’ve seen HOW he’s done it. In Jesus. We’ve seen WHEN He’s done it. Before the foundation of the world. Here’s at least one reason WHY He’s chosen to do this.

He’s done it IN LOVE. See the end of verse 4 and the start of verse 5? “In love he predestined us.” Why? “In love.” He didn’t do it because He had to. No. The Father has been in loving community with the Son and the Spirit forever. He did it because He wanted to. He desired to let that love overflow into His creation, and especially toward the pinnacle of His creation, human beings, us.

He chose to let us share in His trinitarian love. And it certainly wasn’t because we were lovely. The best definition of love I’ve heard is from Paul Tripp. He defines it this way:

“Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving.” (Paul Tripp)

God chose a plan where He would sacrifice Himself for us. For our good. Out of love. Not expecting us to pay Him back. In no way because we had earned it. And He did it before time began. “In love, he predestined us.” As 1 John 4:19 puts it, “We love because he first loved us.” His affection was directed your way before time began. And it’s flowing in your way still.

Notice that He predestined us FOR ADOPTION AS SONS. Here’s the purpose, the “what for” of God’s plan. VERSE 5. He wanted to make us a part of His family. It was for adoption. Now Derek is going to talk about adoption next, so I’m not going to steal his thunder this week. But before time began, the Father didn’t just want to save us. His plan wasn’t just for us to stand before Him innocent and forgiven. Although, that’s awesome. He wanted us to run into His arms. He wanted us as a part of His family. And as a part of His family, to give us an inheritance. See the beginning of verse 11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined.” He’s now our good, loving Dad. He did this “through Jesus Christ.” More on that next week.

There’s another purpose here. It’s in verse 4. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY AND BLAMELESS. He didn’t pick us because we were holy and blameless. But that’s His purpose for us. Yes, in the new heavens and new earth. 1 John 3:2 says, “We shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” That’s His purpose for us.

But He also wants to see that progressively in us now. “Holy” is put more positively. He wants us to more and more look different, more and more like Him. “Blameless” describes it more negatively. He wants to trim all the stuff that doesn’t look like Him away from us.  

Not just later, but now. One direction our mind goes when we think about these things is: “Am I chosen?” Do you have a longing for Christ in your heart? And do you see Him transforming your life? If you have neither of those things - even in the tiniest measure, you have to question things. God’s agenda for His children is to overwhelm them with His love and have that seen overflowing in their lives.

If you’ve ever spent much time with kids, they ask a lot of questions. Every question leads to another “why.” Right? Why is the grass green? It’s spring. Why? Chlorophyl. “Why?” It has to do with the sun. Why? It rotates on an axis. Why? Finally, I usually say, “Go ask your Mother.” Or I just say, “Because.” But whys lead to more whys, right? That’s what we see here. Why does the Lord do all of this? We’ve seen, “in love.” But why?

There’s a deeper “why” here. Look at verse 5. He predestined us for adoption through Jesus ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL. Why did God do this? It was according to His purpose. He wanted to. That’s really all we get. Look at verse 11. “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” God works everything in the world according to His will. That’s His providence. He governs over all His creation. Things happen the way He wants. But it’s also the same with salvation, with His election. Those who are in Christ are there because of His purposes, because of His will.  

That means it’s not ultimately because of our will. You may say, “Well, I chose Him.” That may be true, but something happened before that choice. What’s true of Christ’s disciples is true also of us.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

You may say, “Well, I made the decision.” But long before you did that in time, the Lord had already decided. Hear this, also in John:

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

You’re in Christ according to HIS will. That’s why. Now, as you know, many have said, that God just has foreknowledge of who is going to choose Christ, and He chooses them. Now I don’t know how that isn’t post-destination. But I just don’t see it in Scripture. Foreknowledge is mentioned, but it’s talked about in terms of foreknowledge of persons, NOT decisions. Yes, 1 Peter 1, verses 1 and 2 talk about believers being elect “according to the foreknowledge of God,” but there’s no mention of our choices there. Of our choosing of Jesus.  

Also, if you ever pick up an old King James Bible, you might read about so and so “knowing” so and so. And then a kid results. This is intimate knowledge. That’s the background of the knowledge the New Testament talks about - this knowledge that’s in advance. This is knowledge that is extremely intimate. It’s the kind of knowledge the Lord applies to His people in Amos 3:2. God says, “You only have I know of all the families of the earth.” This is a deep, rich covenantal knowledge of love. As 1 Corinthians 8:3 puts it, “If anyone loves God, he is known by God.” The Lord has this knowledge of us. And He had it long ago. And that’s why we chose Christ, why we decided to follow Him. This is foreknowledge of persons, not facts.

We have a number of families in our church that have adopted. They looked at profiles of the children. They gazed at their pictures. They prayed for those kids, long before they ever entered their homes. They knew them. They picked them. That’s what we’re talking about here. Sure, some day, down the road, they’ll likely say, “I’m sure glad you picked me. I choose you back.” But they’re not there due to their will. And neither are we. Isn’t it amazing that the Lord would set His affection on us?

The whys keep going deeper, but so do the “what fors.” What’s the purpose for which God chose us? We looked at this. So we would be adopted as sons. So that we would be holy and blameless. But there’s a deeper one here, one that Bobby mentioned last week. Verse 6. He predestined us for adoption through Jesus, according to His will, TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORIOUS GRACE. We see something similar down in verse 11. He predestined us, according to His sovereign will again, “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might also be TO THE PRAISE HIS GLORY.”    

Friends, what was God’s ultimate purpose in choosing us? That we would praise His grace. That it would bring Him much glory. That’s the real “what for.” Now this reminds us that it had nothing to do with our works. One day, these kids that have been adopted are going to walk through high school graduation. Many of us are going to be there cheering. They’re going to look at their moms and dads and say, “I owe it all to you. I didn’t deserve this. I thank you.”

That’s us. And, again, it’s not like the Lord looks through the corridors of time and sees our good works and then elect us. Listen to Romans 9:

Rom. 9:10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

Hear verse 16, also. “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” It’s not our works. It’s by His grace. It’s not even our work to walk an aisle or pray a prayer or get in the baptismal. 

He rescues us by His grace. He works good in us by His grace. If we’re at all holy and blameless, it’s by His grace. And that’s so we can’t take a shred of the credit and steal a bit of the glory for ourselves. It all goes to Him. All of it. That means our lives from start to finish are this picture of the amazing grace of God. That the world would look at us and give God glory. That we would look at Him and give Him glory. What a privilege!

Let me review where we’ve come from. Our God and Father chose us out of all the people in the world to be one together, to be one with Christ and rescued through Christ. He chose us way before time began, purely out of His amazing love. He did this that we would be changed and would be made to look like Him. He did it so that we could be in His family, that He could be our Dad. He did it just because He wanted to. He did it irrespective of what we would ever do. He did it by grace so that He would get all the glory.

Hear these words from Deuteronomy 7:6-8. Hear them applied to you, applied to us:

Deut. 7:6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Wow! Are you encouraged? I hope so. That’s how the Lord wants us to feel. But maybe these words don’t leave you encouraged at all. But rather, frustrated or sad. Maybe it doesn’t sound like good news to you. I want to take on a few objections you might have right now.

Free Will

I know the first thing you might be asking is, “What about free will?” That’s a good question. But to get anywhere, I think we need to think more deeply and more biblically about the subject.

Some of you may think it’s like this. Amy and I go out on a date night, and I can get either sushi or Seoul Taco on our dinner together. Yeah, you’d say, “Free will is like that. You can pick either.” Here’s the problem with that. I hate sushi. I’ve been to Japan four times. It goes down slimy and disgusting to me. I’m not remotely interested in it. But I could eat a Bulgogi bowl three times a day.

If we define free will as what we can choose without any kind of disposition of any sort, we’re left with some problems. It’s absurd. How do we make any choices at all? We’d all just stand there. It doesn’t fit with reality. Every choice we make is motivated in some way. But beyond that, it’s just not biblical.

We like to think of it this way: God votes for us. Satan votes against us. We cast the deciding vote. But we’re not morally neutral. Listen to this picture Paul paints of people apart from Jesus, in Romans 8:7. “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot.” On the next page here, in Ephesians 2, God’s word says we’re dead in sin. We’re following Satan. We’re living for the passions of our flesh. The reality is that we’d vote for that candidate every single time. We may technically have the ability to mouth “Jesus is Lord,” but we don’t want to. We may have the natural ability, but not the moral ability. It takes something HUGE to change things.

Free will is the ability to choose what we want. We always choose what we want. We always choose according to our strongest inclination in the moment - whether we’re talking sushi or spirituality. And we don’t want God apart from a work of God. We need Him to melt our wills and bend our wills.

Maybe you say you don’t want that. You don’t want your will or anyone’s being manipulated by God. Well, that’s dangerous, as we’re heading the wrong way without Him. But hear me: this isn’t a dictator ordering someone to worship Him. It’s more like a woman blowing a man away with her presence. He wants to be with her. He can’t NOT be with her. He’s been won over by her love. And God’s is so much greater.

If I tell my kids we’re going to Six Flags, I don’t force them to get in the car. They’re in there. They can’t even sleep the night before due to excitement. Right? I don’t have to force them. Some people picture God’s election like this: some people will be dragged into God’s kingdom kicking and screaming. Others will be beating on the car trying to get in. But that’s not the biblical picture at all. God graciously overcomes the resistance in the hearts of His people. They hear the shepherd’s voice. They want to follow him. They want to go on the trip. The rest of the world doesn’t want to come close to the car. More on that when we get to chapter two.

Fairness

Some of you also might ask, “How is this fair?” Kids sure like to say that, right? “Why does he get this, and I get that? It’s not fair.” Usually when we’re saying this, we’re talking about equality. We want everyone to get the same thing.

Is that what we really want? An angry Hitler in the new world? Do we really want everyone to be chosen? That leaves us with an unjust God who doesn’t take sin seriously, who doesn’t defend His children’s good or care about His honor. It also leaves us with a heaven we don’t want, with all kinds of “bad people” there. But that misses the point. We’re all dark and dirty and in need of grace.

We might just want everyone to get a fair shot. But think about another trip with me for a second. I win a free cruise to the Carribean. I can take 30 people. I’m taking my family. I’m taking the elders. I’m taking Bobby and Laura. My sister and her family. I’d take people I like. People who look and think like me. But that’s not what the Lord does. He is choosing a people from every nation. Think back to what we read in 1 Corinthians 1. He picks the foolish, the weak, the low. Again, He doesn’t want anyone to boast. Maybe the Lord is far more fair than we would ever be.

Justice

Often what we really mean, “Is this right? Is this just?” Back to the adoption illustration. When Aarik and Brooke were in that orphanage in South Africa, they could have technically brought home more children. But the people running the place weren’t going to look at them and say, “Why won’t you pick more? Why won’t you be fair?” They were under no obligation to take any at all. In fact, they were being gracious and kind just to bring home one.

But, then again, the Bible doesn’t picture us as smiling, cute children, looking at prospective parents, longing for a home. We’re rebels, angry at everyone, living in the streets. R.C. Sproul explains it this way. Think of two categories: justice and non-justice. Everyone gets one of the two. In the category of non-justice, there are two realms: injustice and mercy. We all deserve death, judgment, and hell - justice. Some graciously receive life, salvation, and heaven - mercy. But nobody is stuck with something they haven’t earned, something they don’t deserve. No one gets injustice.

Two more quick things I’ll say about fairness and justice. The Lord wants us to trust Him and not fight Him. In Romans 9:20, Paul says, “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” We’re talking about the beautiful mystery of the gospel in Ephesians - this hope that we now can understand. This is a different kind of mystery - one we’ll never completely fathrom. We have to trust Him.

But here’s another thing I have to throw in there. Let’s say you buy into that idea that God chooses who will choose Him. That it’s tied to foreknowledge in some way. You still don’t really fix the problem. You still have a God who could have saved more, but doesn’t. Yes, He wants all people to be saved. But not all are. You just accent man’s will. I just accent God’s - something I think is clearly more biblical. You still have to answer all the same questions.

Ministry

Here’s another reasonable question: “Why even bother? Why do ministry?” Why should we share the gospel? Why should we pray if everything’s already been decided?

Well, first of all, we’re not teaching fatalism here. Our choices do matter. We’re making them all the time. We’re not machines. Yes, God’s in control over His creation and our salvation. But He’s working in and through all our choices. And they’re real.

Second, then, our prayers our means to God’s ends. When someone is saved by Jesus, it isn’t just their decision that’s part of God’s plan. It’s the people praying for them. It’s the people sharing with them. God doesn’t just ordain the last chapter, but the chapters along the way. Not just the climax, but the scenes that come before. So we can’t just sit there. People still have to call out to Jesus. People still have to preach the name of Jesus.

Let me throw this one back the other way again. If you don’t think God is in control, why do you pray? What exactly are you asking God to do? Why do you think He’s going to do something? And, as you share, what’s your hope? Is it all up to you? Isn’t that ton of weight on your shoulders? I’d so much rather rest in the sovereignty of God.

Here’s another thought: if you say it’s all God’s foreknowledge, what do we really gain from that? If something is in God’s mind, if He can see it, from eternity past, aren’t things just as fixed? Don’t we have the exact same problem? Why pray? Why share?

But back to the question: why bother? Here’s the reason. We’ve been chosen. We’ve been given a destiny in advance. We’ve been given a purpose. Look at 1 Peter 2:9 with me.

1Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Sound familiar? It’s Exodus 19 - the passage we began with - applied to us. This is who we are. It’s key to our identity. And just as with ancient Israel, it comes with a mission. They were to bless the earth, to stand as a light to the world, and they failed. And now we have the same calling. But we have a different power. We have the Holy Spirit. We’ve been given the Spirit to empower us as we proclaim His grace. As we sing of His excellencies, of His great glory.

It’s like we’re in the military, and we’ve been chosen. But we’re not just picked to go sit in the barracks and play cards - to kill ourselves watching Netflix. We’ve been chosen for a mission. The chosen can’t be frozen. To sit around and say that God will save people anyone just doesn’t make sense.

Application

I want to wrap up by giving two points of application. If you didn’t catch it, I’ve already given you a few in dealing with those objections. We should revel in this new freedom we have in Christ. We should have confidence that God is doing everything right. We should have zeal for the mission He’s given us. But here are two more very important ones.

It should give us humility. Isn’t it crazy that this doctrine of predestination can have the perplexing effect of making some people arrogant? We’re the chosen ones. We’re the ones that understand this doctrine. That’s nuts! It should humble us. We didn’t deserve this. It wasn’t by our choice. Pride is crazy. It shouldn’t puff up our heads. It should melt our hearts.

But let me challenge those of you who may not agree. And let me say, if you’re not quite with me on this doctrine and don’t even think you ever will be, there’s still room for you here. But consider this. Maybe your objections about whether or not people are treated fairly or justly aren’t really the issue. Maybe it’s that you want to maintain control. You want to say that you chose Him. You want some of the credit.

But here’s what I’d say about that. The New York Giants football team hasn’t been known for their off-the-field behavior. This past year, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul blew off most of his hand, setting off fireworks. A few years back, wide receiver Plaxico Burress somehow discharged a firearm in his pants, shooting himself in the groin. Not too smart. When we question God on these things, we’re doing two things. We’re playing with fireworks. Our God is a consuming fire. And we’re shooting ourselves in the groin. These truths are meant to encourage us.

This should also give us joy. Isn’t it nuts that this is often seen just as a philosophical truth to be debated? It’s meant for far more than that. It’s meant to be an encouragement. It’s meant to give us joy. Again, that the Lord of the universe is our Dad. That He has had His mind on us before time began. That He picked us - not for anything we had done. In fact, we deserved the opposite. But He picked us. He’s brought us into His family. He’s making us new. He did this out of love. He did it all because He wanted to. This should give us overwhelming joy. And that joy in His amazing grace gives Him the glory He deserves.

We’re Chosen

Someday, Brooke and Aarik are going to look in Sibu’s eyes and say, “Buddy, do you know how long we waited for you? It seemed like the call would never come. But what a happy day!” Matt and Alison are going to say, “Me-me, you won’t believe what went into getting you here. People bought all this art. We got all these grants. It was worth it.” Aaron and Maureen are going to say, “God put adoption on our hearts, and we picked you. You were in a rough place. But we loved you. We brought you into our home. What a blessing it has been!”

Karis, who knows where those kids that we now know and love would have been? But they were chosen. Now they have a destiny. What humility that should bring, but what joy, as well.

That’s us, church. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord for His glorious grace. He overcame our enemies. He carried us on eagles wings. We are blessed. Not because of any thing we’ve done. We have no reason to boast. We are His. We are chosen. Simply because He wanted us. Let’s pray.