Chosen in Love

It is easy to look at the world and feel small, but the truth is completely breathtaking: God created the entire universe with you in mind because of the deep, unconditional love He has for us. 1 John 4:19 reminds us of the beautiful origin of this relationship:

"We love because he first loved us."

God didn't just have love for us in the past tense; He has love for us right now, in the present tense, every single minute of every single day. His love isn't reactionary. It doesn't fluctuate based on our performance or our mood. In fact, Ephesians 1:4 takes it a step further:

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."

Before the stars were formed or the earth was set in motion, God chose you. He looked across time, knew you completely, and decided He wanted a relationship with you. Because He went first, our ultimate purpose on this earth is simply to love Him back. Not just some of the time, and not only when life is smooth and blessings are flowing—but all the time, through every season, mountain, and valley.

Reflection Question: Realizing that God loved and chose you before the world was even created, how does that secure your heart today, and how can you show Him that love back in your current circumstances?