Chosen In Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14)

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."
-Ephesians 1:11-12
      For the spring semester our church's young adult group (YDJ) is studying the book of Ephesians. We've actually already covered two passages, but I've been busy with school so I didn't get a chance to write about last week's passage until now. I've decided to write about each week's discussion so that I can hopefully encourage you through the book of Ephesians. I also think this is a good way for me to remind myself of what I've learned.
      This passage has two key points that are actually both contained in the title of this post. "Chosen", and "In Christ". Last week we discussed what it means to be chosen. The first thing I thought of is when I play a pickup game of basketball. Why? In pickup basketball, the first step is to make teams. There are various ways to pick teams, but one of the most common is to have captains. The captains then decide who they want on their team. One of the best feelings is to be picked first, and one of the worst feelings is to be picked last or not at all.
      Now the question I have is "why does it feel good to be chosen?" It's because the captain sees something in you that makes him want you to be on his team. It means that you are worth being on his team. Being chosen first is even better because that means you are seen as the most valuable asset to the team. Let's compare this to being chosen by God. The fact that God chose us might give us the idea that God wants us on His "team" and that we are valuable to Him. If we really stop and think though, why would God want us? How are we valuable to Him in any way?
      The harsh truth is that there is nothing in us that makes us of any worth to God. We are sinners, and we are actually disgusting to God because of our sins. So again I ask, why does God choose us? Let me give another example, adoption. I have no experience with adoption, but I can understand the basic concept. A set of parents want to have kids, so they decide to take in someone to their family. They decided to adopt rather than have their own kids (or both), for various reasons. That's the parents' side of things, but think about the child. This child is lost, forgotten, and left behind. They feel worthless, and might feel that they can't ever be in a family again. However, when they are adopted, I cannot imagine what they must feel. Suddenly they are part of a family, a valuable and wanted member of the family. They are chosen.
      I think that this is why Paul compares our redemption to adoption. We were lost, forgotten and left behind. Instead of leaving us to our own demise, God chose us to be part of His family. How amazing is that? We had nothing to offer God, yet He chose us. How can God accept us if we are separated from Him by our sin? The answer is again in the title- "In Christ". If you read through Ephesians 1, you immediately notice that Paul continually uses the phrase "In Christ". What does that mean? It means that all of the blessings that God pours out on us are only possible in Christ. I said earlier that there is nothing that makes us of any worth to God. While this is true, it is only true when we are not in Christ. In Christ, we are of the utmost value to God, and He wants us to be with Him. Christ has given us all of the blessings mentioned in Ephesians, including the adoption to sonship. My challenge to you is to think about what this all means. What does it mean to you that you are chosen in Christ?
-Smart