Overwhelmed Within By Rich Wilbur Navigate
God chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love ...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1.4 & 1.6
When I meditate upon the word *chose* in Ephesians 1.4, something happens deep within me. I'm not sure what it is, only that I feel so privileged. As the title of this devotional study says, I am simply OVERWHELMED within! In the Greek language of the original New Testament, "chose" [eklegomai] simply means “to pick, to choose.” But the amazing fact is this -- in Ephesians 1.4 the Greek verb for "chose" is in the *reflective tense.* Therefore, we can render the meaning this way: “God chose us for HIMSELF.”		Think about what this really means... God chose YOU to be His very own son or daughter. God chose YOU as someone He loved so much that He would bleed and die to redeem you. And you, dear sister or brother in Christ, are daily an object of your Father's delight. You make Him smile! You give Him joy! If you're anything like me, the full significance of the word *CHOSE* will overwhelm you. And if you are anything at all like me, you will marvel that we Christians -- mere worms, mortals, vessels of weakness -- should ever and always be the objects of God's amazing love!
Ephesians 1.6 goes on to tell you that you are *accepted* by God. Doesn't that amaze you? How wonderful and marvelous it is -- that God condescended to accept you into His holy presence, and to adopt you as His very own child. But notice! It is only because you are "IN the Beloved” -- clothed in the righteousness and perfections of Jesus -- that God can and does accept you. We are **ACCEPTED in the Beloved !** Does that truth leave you feeling humble? It sure does that for me.		God chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love ...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1.4 & 1.6
Some Christians might think they were accepted because of their own talents, gifts, or status in society. BUT Ephesians 1.4-6 quickly puts the lie to that bit of pride. NO one is accepted by God on his or her own merits. Every child of God is accepted because -- and ONLY because -- he or she is IN the Beloved. If you tend to look at yourself and see little or nothing acceptable there, then look instead at your Savior. And then remember: when God looks at you He sees the perfections of Jesus. Though your sins may trouble you, Isaiah 38.17 ever assures you that God has thrown them all behind His back.		Indeed it was for my own peace that I had great bitterness. But You, O God, have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption. For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. Isaiah 38.17
Today, tomorrow and throughout this week, you will fight with corruption, wrestle with temptation, and spar with the devil, but you have ALREADY won! Why? Because God *chose* you in the Beloved! Here's a thought: Even Moses, Peter, Paul, and all those other great saints who have gone before you into heaven, are not more chosen by God in the Beloved than you are. All of God's children are all chosen in the same manner and to the same degree!		“Why am I saved?” you ask. Because God *chose* you for Himself and placed you in His Beloved Jesus. That's why! Dwell for a moment on God’s great love and protection for you, and see if you, too, will not be overwhelmed by something deep within. Truly Grateful, Rich

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