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Predestined...in love


          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 1:4b-6)

          Having done my rant on predestination, we can continue with the verses in question. Yes, we’re predestined, but look at the modifier: “In love.” Often, when people struggle with the idea of predestination, they speak of it as if the purpose of predestination is sinister. But according to our passage, predestination, whether it is you who are predestined to adoption to sonship, or those who are saved (of which you happen to be one) are predestined to adoption to sonship, the goal is blessing to all – even those who are not saved – through the lives of those who are saved.
          Because He loves you, He predestined you to sonship. Because He loves those who aren’t saved, He predestined you to sonship, so that He can love them through you.  His pleasure, and His will, is to love people as much as they will allow Him to love them.
          I have to admit, this part is difficult for me. I spent most of my life seeing God as displeased with me. If He loved me at all (and I couldn’t imagine why He would,) He loved me only because He’s God, and that’s His job. That’s the rule. God loves; therefore, God must love me. The logic is incontrovertible. But that didn’t mean He had to like it. In fact, there have been times when I’ve hated God because God’s love for me was as just one of the many.
          But… “in love… in accordance with his pleasure and will…he has freely given us…” Scripture says He doesn’t love us because He’s God, and that’s part of His job description. He adopts as to sonship in love…in according with His pleasure and will…freely. It bothers me when people say things like, “He’s crazy about you,” but His love is eternal, it brings Him pleasure. He’s not passive about it, nor is He stingy.

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