In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:1-3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 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 1:3-6

It is easy to forget — so the apostle reminds us — that God didn’t have to change his plans on our account. So many preachers when reading this greeting from Paul will extol the mercy of God for saving us from sin, indeed Paul does the same in the next verse, but sonship has primacy over salvation.

The order of the plan matters in this case. God wants you as his precious child. That comes before, in order and importance, any things you have done against him. Not only that, God has planned for your adoption as his child since before the creation of the world. Since before “let there be light” God desired a relationship with you! Don’t ever doubt the care and love God has for you.

Ethan Kirl