Chosen by God
God is a Dreamer. Before the foundation of the world, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had so much other-giving love that it simply could not be contained. It spilled out into a race of children created in His image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Ephesians 1:4 (TPT) is explicit about His heart for His kids. It says:
4 And he chose us to be his very own, joining us to himself even before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence.
You are His dream come true!
Destiny in Christ
Not only did God choose us in union with Himself before the foundation of the world, but He prepared a destiny for us.
Through our union with Christ we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart -Ephesians 1:11 (TPT)
God’s Workmanship
Ephesians 2:10 not only speaks of our destiny but also how God crafted us as His “poetry to the world”:
We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! (TPT)
The Greek word for “poetry” here is the word “poiēma”, and can be translated as follows:
- a product, such as a piece of fabric, literally or figuratively
- a thing that is made
- workmanship
God is Love. (1 John 4:8-9) You are literally cut out of the same bolt of fabric as your Creator…of Love, Himself! You are Love’s poem to the world!
You are not some random biochemical happening, but an exquisite work of art chosen and crafted before the foundation of the world.
Take this in and sit with it for a bit!
Bearing the Image of Christ
In addition, the Word says because of His finished work – Love’s performance – we are exact representations of Christ right now.
16 We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us.
God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them. 17 By living in God,[c] love has been brought to its full expression in us so that we may fearlessly face the day of judgment, because all that Jesus now is, so are we in this world. -1 John 4:16-17 (TPT)
The Divine Nature
We are of Love’s essence, partaking of the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:2-4)
This is a mind-blowing reality that requires much faith – His faith (Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 12:2). It requires much faith because we fall short. We must remember this is all based on Christ’s matchless performance- not ours!
If Christ’s performance made us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) and He has become our sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30), then all this is about Him and His performance – not ours!
This is something I urge you to meditate on. It is scandalous, but it is the gospel and it will set you free. It will make you fall deeper in love with Christ! Understanding it in this light will help you see yourself and others rightly!
You are marked by Love, Himself!
Identity is who you truly are – the way God created you. This is not defined by your behavior, others who have harmed you, or what has happened to you. You are defined by God as His daughter who has always been loved and who is marked by love. It is true even if you don’t believe it or believe it much. That is what healing is all about.
He and I ve not reach that point yet.But I think as his daughter that he’s trying to mark me by love or I’m already.but it will take baby steps but I think in my heart 💗 when I’m ready I will be gladly to accept it by him but at this time it’s hard for me to be love by him or anyone right now.not trying to be disrespectful to him or you in your wonderful insight.im sure in time I will need to gladly read this one again.this was very powerful and kinda of hard.but not trying to be disrespectful to the Lord or your blog Catherine.it will take me time like I said baby steps.Thank you through i appreciate all your blogs.
Yes, sweetheart – continue to take babysteps in learning to trust, forgiving and letting God love you. That is where healing happens!
Identity is who you are. And who you are is a daughter of God whether or not that feels true right now or not. You don’t CHOOSE to be a daughter – He chose you as His daughter and that makes you His daughter even if you don’t know it or feel like it. You are marked by Love because God is Love and since you are created in His image and look like Him/Her. Because of that you look like Love and carry the marks of Love. It is good and I guarentee that is what you really want. It is not creepy in any way. It actually is what heals all creepy stuff.