“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

Do you remember getting a prize in a cereal box? Growing up, my siblings and I would race to be the first to dig it out. I vividly recall one prize in particular: a pair of special glasses meant to decode a “secret” message on the box. To the naked eye, the message was just a jumble of colors and patterns. But when I put on those glasses, the hidden words came into focus.

This is how I imagine God sees us. To the casual observer, believers might just look like everyone else. But God views us through the lens of Jesus Christ, and that changes everything. Through that lens, He sees us as holy and blameless.

In this powerful passage, Paul reminds us that God chose us in Him before the world even began. Being chosen comes with an incredible collection of spiritual benefits. We are:

• Adopted as His children (Eph. 1:5)

• Accepted and loved (Eph. 1:6)

• Redeemed and forgiven (Eph. 1:7)

• Given wisdom and understanding (Eph. 1:8-9)

• Brought into the mystery of His will (Eph. 1:9)

• Marked with a seal and guaranteed an inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14)

It's no wonder Paul previously declared that we are blessed with “every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

But here is the beautiful truth: we are not chosen based on our own merit. It is all based on our position in Christ. Peter explains that Jesus was chosen before the foundation of the world, and because we believe in Him, our hope is secure (1 Peter 1:20-21). We benefit from being chosen by the Father because Jesus was chosen first, and we are now found in Him. God loves us dearly on the basis of Jesus.

So, how should we respond to this amazing reality?

What has made a profound difference in my own life is learning to see myself through the lens of Christ. If scripture says I am holy and blameless because of Jesus, then I choose to believe that is who I am. I no longer allow my sins and mistakes to keep me at a distance from the Father. Instead, I embrace the privilege I have as His child to approach Him and find grace to work through my struggles, rather than being weighed down by them. The result is a shift from being sin-conscious to being God-conscious, and this truly changes how I live each day.

Today, I pray you will take a moment to see the work of God in your own life. Where have you seen Him move and change you? Where have you struggled, only to find His grace was more than enough? Take a moment to thank Him for making you holy and blameless in Christ Jesus.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. How does being chosen change your sense of worth and purpose?

2. What’s one way you can focus more on God’s view of you this week?

3. Which blessing of being chosen speaks to you most right now?