How the Father Feels about You
January 30, 2023
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. Ephesians 1:5 NLT
God decided. It was His own choice. Willing and personal.
God decided in advance. It was intentional, well thought out, and planned. It was a deliberate move on His part, central to His heart.
God decided in advance to adopt us. He wanted us to be as close as possible to Him, not just friends, but His children. He took on the responsibility of care for us as His very own children.
God decided in advance to adopt us into His family. He didn’t want us to be isolated. He adopted us into a family with other deeply loved children so we could have all the joys of a relationship. Our natural place now is within God’s family, not as lone rangers, or lonely people. As siblings He intended for us to love and grow together.
God decided in advance to adopt us into His family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This simple statement wraps up the incomprehensible truth that our brokenness and sin separated us from the Father who loves us so much. He wasn’t vindictively punishing humankind. It is just an unchangeable fact. Perfect holiness cannot exist with sin. There was no way we could be in His family no matter how much He loved us until that debt was paid. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, willingly paid the debt of all our sin with His perfect life sacrificed for us. Now we have access to God our Father.
This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. Let His own Son die for sinful people, many who would never love Him? Take on the care and nurture and responsibility for all those He adopts into His family? It seems unreasonable and unlikely. But this is what God wanted to do. Think of that. He WANTED to do it. He did not do it grudgingly. He did it with His whole heart of love and it gave Him IMMENSE pleasure. Just as doing something wonderful for your children pleases you, doing this for us gave and gives God great pleasure. Every time we respond with a willing choice to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and become part of God’s family, God is filled with pleasure.
He really does love you.
What a Father!
- Pray your own prayer of thanksgiving from an overflowing heart.