Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – immense value has been placed on each of us with deliberate and joy-filled intent for our lives.
Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
[4] Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Observation
This is extreme. Before a creation moment, before anything was given creative expression to be, God’s eyes, thoughts, and heart were for us. We are the focused intent of creation. Maybe that is why this world is so exceptionally designed for my sustenance and pleasure, at least the world as it was intended to be. We were God’s muse. If only we could place on each other the value that God places on us each, what a world that would be. When you look at someone, someone who represents a lifestyle that you do not agree with or condone, look through the eyes of God and see the value before the behaviour.
Chosen with purpose. To be His, separated to Him, holy. To be loved and adopted as kids. To be perfect in His eyes. Here is the creator’s intent for all of us. What should I do with my life, follow the creator’s purpose, doesn’t everything work better that way. When I live intimately in His presence, when I lived loved, when I live beautifully parented, and when I live free from all condemnation, disqualification and shame, with a declaration of perfect sung over me every day, that’s the life, the purpose, on the outside of the box I came in.
This is the desire and design of the creator and he was having a ball. For too long good behaviour has been sold as the key to a smile on God’s face. But God clearly is not interested at all, it was not even on His mind. Why make me perfect, if that was something I had to do to bring him pleasure? He made me perfect because loving and celebrating and engaging with me is what brings him pleasure. I have not for years spent time with God and not experienced His love, acceptance and celebration of me, and I know how to behave as badly as the next guy and so often do.
Application
Read the instructions that came with your birth. You were made for someone, to be separated to Him. You were made for love and to be richly parented. And to ensure all this you were declared perfect forever. Why would we not want to live from this script for life? Fullness, brilliant life flows when I live it according to the creator’s intent. Knowing who I am shapes all the what’s.
Response
Thank you for the way you created me, and your intention for me. I am so humbled that you had eyes for me before creation. It changes everything. It changes my mind, my heart, and my eyes.
Meditation
Meditation thought – you had me in mind before you created.
Consider:
What instructions are shaping your life? What have you heard and accepted as your shaping truth over you?
Is the God you know the God who would make this declaration over you?
JOURNEY DEEPER
