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Living by Faith When We Cannot See Tomorrow

Trusting Jesus Through Sunshine, Shadow, and Rain

One of the first lines of the beloved hymn “Living by Faith” says:

“I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain.”

That does not mean the writer was unconcerned about life or indifferent to suffering. It means he had decided not to allow tomorrow’s uncertainty to control today’s peace.

None of us knows what tomorrow will bring.

Tomorrow may bring an answered prayer, an unexpected blessing, or an encouraging conversation. It may also bring disappointment, illness, financial difficulty, loneliness, or news we never expected to receive.

Faith does not tell us which kind of day is coming.

Faith tells us that Jesus will already be there.

What Does It Mean to Live by Faith?

Paul wrote:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
—2 Corinthians 5:7

Walking by sight means that our confidence depends upon what we can presently see, understand, predict, or control.

Walking by faith means that our confidence rests in the character of God even when we cannot understand what He is doing.

Living by faith does not mean closing our eyes to reality. It means looking beyond our circumstances to the One who remains faithful within them.

Faith says:

“I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that my Heavenly Father will not abandon me.”

“I do not understand everything happening in my life, but I believe God understands it completely.”

“I cannot see the entire road ahead, but I will take the next step He has placed before me.”

Faith is not confidence that everything will happen according to our plans. It is confidence that God remains trustworthy when our plans do not happen.

Faith Begins With the Character of God

The hymn’s chorus begins:

“Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love.”

Those words show us where biblical faith is placed.

Faith is not confidence in our own ability to remain strong. It is not positive thinking or an attempt to convince ourselves that nothing painful will happen.

Biblical faith has an object: Jesus Christ.

We trust Him because He has demonstrated His love for us at the cross. We confide in Him because He has invited us to bring our burdens to Him. We follow Him because He sees what we cannot see.

Faith is only as reliable as the person in whom it is placed. Because Jesus is faithful, our faith in Him has a secure foundation.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
—Hebrews 13:8

Circumstances change. People change. Our feelings change. Jesus does not.

Faith Does Not Mean We Never Feel Afraid

The song declares:

“I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.”

That is a wonderful expression of confidence, but it should not make struggling believers feel guilty whenever fear enters their hearts.

People who live by faith may still experience moments of anxiety, grief, confusion, and fear. Faith is not the complete absence of troubling emotions. Faith is the decision to bring those emotions to God instead of allowing them to lead us away from Him.

David frequently expressed fear in the Psalms, but he also declared:

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
—Psalm 56:3

Notice that David did not say, “I will never be afraid.” He said, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust.”

Fear may knock on the door of our hearts, but faith decides who will be permitted to govern the house.

Living by faith means that when fear comes, we return our thoughts to the faithfulness of God.

The Difference Between Concern and Worry

There is a difference between responsibly addressing a concern and allowing worry to consume us.

Concern may lead us to pray, prepare, seek wisdom, or take appropriate action. Worry repeatedly carries us into an imaginary future where we attempt to solve problems that have not yet happened.

Jesus said:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
—Matthew 6:34

Jesus was not teaching irresponsibility. He was teaching us not to carry tomorrow’s burdens with today’s strength.

God gives us grace for today.

When tomorrow becomes today, He will provide the grace needed for that day as well.

Worry asks us to experience tomorrow’s trouble before tomorrow arrives. Faith brings us back into the presence of God today.

Faith Takes Life One Day at a Time

God frequently leads His children one step at a time.

When Israel traveled through the wilderness, God supplied manna for each day. The people were not meant to collect enough to secure themselves independently of Him. They had to awaken each morning and trust that God would provide again.

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
—Matthew 6:11

He did not teach us to demand a complete explanation of everything that would happen for the remainder of our lives.

Living by faith means receiving today as a gift and asking:

“Father, what would You have me do with this day?”

We may not know where the entire road leads, but we can obey God at the place where we are standing.

A life of faith is built through many small decisions to trust and obey.

Faith Talks to the Father

The hymn uses the word “confiding.” That is a beautiful description of prayer.

To confide in someone means to share what is truly within our hearts. God does not ask us to pretend that we are never confused, disappointed, or afraid. He invites us to talk with Him honestly.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
—1 Peter 5:7

When I walk Sadie and talk to my Heavenly Father as though He were walking beside me, I am practicing this kind of faith. I may not hear an audible answer, but I can share my gratitude, worries, hopes, questions, and concerns with Him.

Prayer is one of the ways faith breathes.

We do not pray because God is unaware of our needs. We pray because we are His children and He desires a relationship with us.

Living by faith means learning to walk and talk with our Heavenly Father through every season of life.

Faith Does Not Promise a Trouble-Free Life

One line of the hymn speaks of being safe in the sheltering arms of Jesus. We must understand that promise biblically.

It does not mean believers will never become sick, suffer loss, experience persecution, or endure physical danger. Jesus plainly told His disciples that they would face trouble:

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

God’s shelter does not always mean that He prevents the storm. Sometimes it means that He keeps our souls secure while He carries us through it.

The apostles lived by faith, but many were persecuted. Paul lived by faith, but he experienced imprisonment, beatings, rejection, shipwreck, and hardship. Their suffering did not prove that God had abandoned them.

Faith does not say, “Nothing painful will happen to me.”

Faith says, “Nothing that happens can separate me from the love of God.”

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come…shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 8:38–39

Our ultimate safety is not found in avoiding every earthly difficulty. It is found in belonging eternally to Jesus.

Faith and God’s Unanswered Questions

There will be times when we do not understand why God permits something to happen.

Faith does not require us to call pain pleasant or pretend that loss does not hurt. It allows us to say:

“Father, I do not understand this, but I still trust Your heart.”

Job did not understand the spiritual conflict surrounding his suffering. Joseph did not understand God’s entire plan while he was in the pit or the prison. Abraham did not know where God was leading when he left his homeland.

They had to obey with incomplete information.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
—Proverbs 3:5–6

If we insist upon understanding everything before trusting God, we are not truly walking by faith. Faith continues walking when the explanation has not yet arrived.

Faith Must Produce Obedience

Living by faith is more than feeling peaceful. Genuine faith changes the way we live.

Hebrews Chapter 11 repeatedly connects faith with action:

• By faith, Noah prepared the ark.
• By faith, Abraham obeyed and went out.
• By faith, Moses chose to identify with God’s people.
• By faith, Israel crossed the Red Sea.

Their faith became visible through obedience.

Faith says more than, “I believe God exists.” Faith says, “Because I believe God, I will do what He asks me to do.”

James wrote:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
—James 1:22

This connects living by faith with our “Be Attitude.” We abide in Christ, listen to His Word, trust His direction, and then become doers of what He has shown us.

We are not saved by our works. We are saved by grace through faith. But the faith that receives God’s grace begins producing a life of obedience.

Faith Helps Us Release Control

One reason faith can be difficult is that we naturally want control.

We want to know what will happen, when it will happen, why it will happen, and how everything will turn out.

God rarely gives us that much information.

Instead, He gives us Himself.

The choice to live by faith is also the choice to surrender the illusion that we control our lives. We make wise plans, fulfill our responsibilities, and seek God’s direction, but we hold our plans with open hands.

“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
—James 4:15

Surrender does not mean that we stop planning. It means that our plans remain subject to the will of God.

Living by faith means trusting that His wisdom is greater than ours.

Faith Looks Beyond This Present World

The hymn eventually directs our attention beyond the hardships of this life to our eternal home.

That is an essential part of living by faith.

If this present world were all that existed, many of our trials would seem senseless. But believers are traveling toward a destination we have not yet seen.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
—Hebrews 11:1

We have not yet seen the New Heaven and New Earth. We have not seen the dwelling place Jesus is preparing. We have not stood before Him or heard His voice welcome us home.

But we believe His promises.

Our faith reminds us that this earthly life is temporary. The suffering we experience here will not have the final word. Jesus is preparing an eternal future for everyone who belongs to Him.

We live by faith today because we are moving toward a future that God has already secured.

Faith Prepares Us to Stand Before Jesus

Living by faith also shapes how we use the time, abilities, opportunities, and resources God has entrusted to us.

One day, every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our salvation will not be decided there; salvation is already secured by grace through faith. But Jesus will evaluate how faithfully we lived after receiving His grace.

Did we trust Him enough to obey?

Did we use what He entrusted to us for His purposes?

Did we follow Him when obedience was difficult?

Did we remain faithful when we could not see immediate results?

Faithful service is not always dramatic. It may involve caring for someone, encouraging a discouraged person, giving generously, sharing the Gospel, forgiving an offense, praying privately, or continuing an assignment when no one seems to notice.

Living by faith means believing that obedience to Jesus always has eternal value—even when its results remain unseen on earth.

The Just Shall Live by Faith

Paul wrote:

“The just shall live by faith.”
—Romans 1:17

Faith is not merely the doorway through which we enter the Christian life. It is the way the Christian life must continually be lived.

We are saved by faith.

We walk by faith.

We pray by faith.

We obey by faith.

We serve by faith.

We endure by faith.

And one day, our faith will become sight.

Until then, we do not have to know everything tomorrow will bring. We only need to know that Jesus will remain faithful.

A Question for Today

Perhaps the most important question is not:

“What is going to happen tomorrow?”

The better question is:

“Will I trust Jesus today?”

We can spend our lives worrying about circumstances that may never happen, or we can place today into the hands of our Heavenly Father.

Living by faith does not mean that every day will contain sunshine. Some days will bring shadows, storms, and rain.

But through every changing season, one truth remains:

The Lord is still sovereign. His love has not changed. His promises have not failed. His Spirit remains within us. His grace will be sufficient. And our eternal future is secure in Jesus Christ.

We may not see the entire road.

But we know the One who does.

And so, one day, one prayer, and one obedient step at a time, we continue living by faith.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I know that You will be there. Forgive me for the times I have allowed worry to occupy the place that belongs to trust.

Teach me to walk by faith and not merely by what I can see. Help me bring every fear, burden, and unanswered question to You. Give me the courage to obey even when I cannot see the entire road ahead.

Thank You that living by faith does not mean living without difficulty. It means living with the assurance that nothing can separate me from Your love. Help me use today faithfully, serve You obediently, and keep my heart fixed upon the eternal home You have prepared.

Until my faith becomes sight, help me continue trusting, walking, and living by faith in Jesus.

In His name, amen.

The Woman Who Would Not Walk Away

The Woman Who Would Not Walk Away

What the Faith of a Gentile Mother Teaches Us About Silence, Persistence, and Grace

Matthew 15:21–28

Understanding the “Children’s Bread” and the Faith That Jesus Commended

One of the most challenging conversations in the Gospels occurred when a Gentile woman came to Jesus pleading for her daughter.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
—Matthew 15:22

Her request was desperate, sincere, and persistent. Yet Jesus did not immediately answer her:

“But He answered her not a word.”
—Matthew 15:23

At first, His silence can seem cold. When He finally spoke, His words may sound even more difficult:

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
—Matthew 15:24

Then, when she continued pleading, Jesus said:

“It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
—Matthew 15:26

Why would Jesus respond this way? Was He refusing her because she was a Gentile? Was He comparing her unfavorably to the Jewish people?

To understand the encounter, we must see it within God’s unfolding plan of redemption.

Jesus Came to Israel First

Jesus was Israel’s promised Messiah. God had made covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. The prophets had foretold the coming of a Jewish Messiah who would restore Israel and ultimately bring salvation to the nations.

Therefore, during His earthly ministry, Jesus’ mission was directed primarily toward Israel.

He told His disciples:

“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
—Matthew 10:5–6

Paul later summarized this order:

“For the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
—Romans 1:16

This does not mean that God loved Jewish people but did not love Gentiles. It means that God was fulfilling His promises in the order He had established.

The Messiah came through Israel and presented Himself to Israel first. Then, through His death and resurrection, the Gospel would go from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and eventually to the ends of the earth.

The phrase “to the Jew first” speaks of God’s appointed order—not of greater human worth.

God Always Intended to Bless the Gentiles

God’s concern for the nations did not begin after Israel rejected Jesus. It was part of His plan from the beginning.

God promised Abraham:

“And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
—Genesis 12:3

Israel was chosen not merely to receive God’s blessings, but to become the people through whom the Messiah—and therefore salvation—would come to the world.

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be:

“A light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
—Isaiah 49:6

Jesus’ earthly ministry concentrated upon Israel, but His ultimate mission included every nation.

After His resurrection, He commanded:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”
—Matthew 28:19

Therefore, the Gentile woman was not outside God’s ultimate plan. Her encounter with Jesus was a preview of the day when Gentiles from every nation would be welcomed into the family of God through faith.

Why Did Jesus Remain Silent?

Jesus’ silence did not mean that He lacked compassion. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus demonstrated compassion toward Gentiles as well as Jews.

He healed a Roman centurion’s servant and marveled at the centurion’s faith. He ministered in Gentile regions. He delivered a demon-possessed man and sent him home to tell others what God had done. He also spoke of people coming from east and west to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom.

Jesus already knew what was in this woman’s heart. His silence brought her faith into the open.

It also exposed the attitude of the disciples. They said:

“Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
—Matthew 15:23

The disciples saw an interruption. Jesus saw a woman whose faith would become an example for generations.

His delay did not destroy her faith. It revealed it.

Sometimes God’s silence is not necessarily His rejection. We may not understand why an answer is delayed, but genuine faith continues to trust His character even when His purpose is not immediately apparent.

What Did Jesus Mean by “The Children’s Bread”?

The “children” represented Israel, the covenant people to whom the Messiah had first been sent. The “bread” represented the blessings of His Messianic ministry.

Jesus was explaining the priority of His mission. He had come to present the Kingdom to Israel in fulfillment of God’s covenant promises.

The word translated “dogs” in this passage refers to little or household dogs rather than the wild scavenging dogs commonly found in the streets. Nevertheless, the comparison still establishes a distinction between those seated at the table and those who had not yet been given that covenant position.

Jesus was placing the apparent obstacle before her:

“The children are served first. On what basis do you ask Me for their bread?”

Her answer was remarkable:

“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
—Matthew 15:27

She did not argue that she deserved the children’s place. She did not accuse Jesus of injustice. She did not approach Him on the basis of her nationality, goodness, or personal merit.

She appealed entirely to His abundant mercy.

In effect, she was saying:

“Lord, I accept that I have no covenant claim upon You. But I believe there is so much power and mercy in You that even a crumb from Your table is enough to deliver my daughter.”

She understood that the smallest expression of Christ’s authority was greater than the terrible power oppressing her child.

She Took Her Place—but Trusted His Heart

The woman’s response combined humility with bold faith.

She began by calling Jesus:

“O Lord, Son of David!”

She recognized Him as Israel’s Messiah. Then she came closer, worshiped Him, and pleaded:

“Lord, help me!”

When Jesus spoke of the children and the little dogs, she answered, “Yes, Lord.”

Those words are important.

She agreed that God had established an order in His redemptive plan. But she also believed that His mercy was greater than the boundary standing before her.

She did not demand what she believed she deserved. She asked for what she knew only Jesus could provide.

This is the posture of saving faith.

We do not come to Jesus because we deserve His blessings. We come because He is merciful. We do not argue our own worthiness. We trust His goodness, His authority, and His grace.

Jesus Was Drawing Out Her Faith

Jesus finally answered:

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”
—Matthew 15:28

Matthew tells us:

“And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

Jesus did not merely call her faith adequate. He called it great.

That is especially significant because Jesus frequently corrected His own disciples for having “little faith.” Yet this Gentile woman received one of the strongest commendations of faith found in the Gospels.

The disciples had witnessed countless miracles and still struggled to understand. This woman had received only silence and challenging words, yet she continued believing that Jesus was merciful and powerful enough to help her.

Her persistence did not force an unwilling Savior to become compassionate. Her persistence revealed that she truly believed in the compassion and authority already present within Him.

Jesus was not learning something about her faith. He was revealing her faith—to the disciples, to the surrounding people, and to everyone who would later read the account.

Did Her Persistence Earn the Miracle?

The woman’s persistence was important, but it did not purchase Jesus’ blessing.

She did not earn the miracle through the amount of time she pleaded. She received it by trusting in the Person to whom she was pleading.

Faith is not a work that makes us deserving. Faith is the empty hand that receives what only Christ can give.

The power was not in the woman’s ability to persuade Jesus. The power was in Jesus Himself.

Her great faith was demonstrated by the fact that she refused to place her confidence anywhere else. Even when His response was difficult to understand, she remained at His feet.

She believed that one crumb from Jesus was better than everything the world could offer.

Is This Connected to Matthew 7:6?

Jesus also mentioned dogs in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine.”
—Matthew 7:6

However, this passage teaches something different.

In Matthew 7, the “dogs” and “swine” represent people who treat sacred truth with contempt and hostility. Jesus was teaching His disciples to exercise spiritual discernment. We should freely share the truth, but we should recognize when someone is not merely questioning it but viciously mocking, trampling, or attacking it.

This does not mean that we decide certain people are permanently unworthy of the Gospel. Nor does it give us permission to treat unbelievers with contempt.

It means that we should not continually place holy things before those who are determined only to desecrate them. There may come a time to step away, continue praying for them, and allow God to work in their hearts.

The woman in Matthew 15 was the opposite of the people described in Matthew 7:6.

She did not trample upon what was holy. She recognized its value.

She did not mock Jesus. She worshiped Him.

She did not reject the truth. She humbled herself before it.

She did not turn against the One offering mercy. She clung to Him in faith.

Therefore, the two passages use similar imagery, but they should not be merged into one teaching about Gentiles. Matthew 7:6 concerns contempt for sacred truth. Matthew 15 concerns the historical priority of Israel in God’s plan and the extraordinary faith of a Gentile woman.

A Preview of the Gospel Going to the Nations

This woman’s story points forward to what would happen after the cross and resurrection.

The blessings that came through Israel’s Messiah would overflow to the Gentile world. The crumbs falling from the table anticipated a much greater invitation.

Through faith in Jesus, Gentile believers would no longer remain outsiders:

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
—Ephesians 2:19

The Gentile woman asked for a crumb, but God’s eternal plan was eventually to give believing Gentiles a place within His household.

This connects beautifully with Ephesians Chapter 1. Those who are in Christ—Jew and Gentile alike—are chosen, redeemed, adopted, forgiven, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and given an eternal inheritance.

The woman who approached as an outsider became an early picture of the faith through which people from every nation would come to Christ.

When God’s Answer Seems Like Silence

This woman’s experience also speaks directly to us.

Sometimes we pray and hear no immediate answer. Sometimes circumstances appear to contradict what we believe about God’s goodness. Sometimes the door seems closed.

Faith does not pretend that the silence is easy. Nor does faith attempt to manipulate God into giving us what we want.

Faith continues to trust the character of Jesus.

The woman did not allow silence to convince her that Jesus was powerless. She did not allow delay to convince her that He was unmerciful. She stayed near Him and continued asking for His help.

We must be careful not to turn this account into a promise that persistent prayer will always obtain the precise outcome we request. God remains sovereign, and sometimes His answer is different from what we desire.

But the story does teach us where to go when we are desperate.

We go to Jesus.

Even when we do not understand His timing, we remain at His feet. Even when His answer challenges us, we continue trusting His heart.

The Undiscovered Lesson

Perhaps the deeper lesson is not simply that this woman refused to take no for an answer.

It is that she understood something many others had missed:

There was enough mercy in Jesus for her too.

She knew she had no ability to command Him. She knew she could not appeal to religious position or personal merit. But she believed that His mercy was abundant, His authority was absolute, and His smallest blessing was sufficient.

She came as an outsider, fell at the feet of Israel’s Messiah, and trusted Him completely.

Jesus did not send her away.

He honored her faith, delivered her daughter, and allowed her story to become part of the everlasting Word of God.

Her story reminds us that no person is saved because of nationality, religious heritage, personal goodness, or human effort. Jews and Gentiles alike must come to Jesus by faith.

We come with empty hands.

We come acknowledging our need.

We come believing that Jesus is Lord.

And we discover that the Savior whose mercy we seek has already opened the way for us to become members of God’s own household.

She asked for a crumb.

But through Jesus Christ, God was preparing a place at His table.

 

Were You Chosen Before the World Began?

Understanding God’s Eternal Purpose in Ephesians Chapter 1

Have you ever wondered whether God knew you before you were born?

Did He know that you would one day hear the Gospel, place your faith in Jesus Christ, and become part of His family? Or did God’s relationship with you begin only when you first believed?

Ephesians Chapter 1 gives us a breathtaking answer:

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”
—Ephesians 1:4

Before the earth was formed, before Adam and Eve were created, and before sin entered the world, God already had a plan. His plan was centered in Jesus Christ: to redeem a people for Himself, adopt them into His family, transform them into the likeness of His Son, and ultimately bring all things together under Christ.

This does not mean that we existed before we were born. It means that God’s saving purpose existed before the world began.

Our salvation was not an emergency plan created after humanity fell into sin. The cross was always part of God’s eternal plan.

Every Spiritual Blessing Is Found “in Christ”

Paul begins this chapter with praise:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
—Ephesians 1:3

The words “in Christ” are essential to understanding this chapter.

God’s blessings are not given to us because we have earned them. They belong to Christ, and we receive them because we have been united with Him through faith.

In Christ, we are:

• Chosen
• Adopted
• Accepted
• Redeemed
• Forgiven
• Given an eternal inheritance
• Sealed with the Holy Spirit

Christianity is more than believing certain facts about Jesus. It is entering a living relationship with Him. When we trust Him, we are placed “in Christ,” and everything that belongs to Him becomes the foundation of our new identity.

We are no longer defined by our past, our failures, our possessions, or the opinions of other people. We are defined by our relationship with Jesus.

What Does It Mean That God Chose Us?

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.”
—Ephesians 1:4

Christians have discussed the meaning of God’s choosing for centuries. Some emphasize God’s sovereign choice of individual believers. Others emphasize that God determined beforehand that everyone who is “in Christ” would become part of His chosen people.

Faithful believers may understand some of the details differently, but we should not allow the debate to obscure the beautiful truth Paul wants us to see:

Salvation began in the heart of God, not in the goodness of humanity.

We did not surprise God by coming to faith. He was not unaware of us until the moment we believed. Before we ever began searching for Him, He had already established His plan of redemption through His Son.

At the same time, Scripture sincerely calls every person to repent, believe, and receive Jesus Christ:

“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
—Romans 10:13

God’s sovereign purpose and our responsibility to respond in faith are both taught in Scripture. We may not completely understand how they fit together, but we can trust the wisdom and character of God.

The invitation of the Gospel remains open:

“Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
—Revelation 22:17

Our responsibility is not to solve every mystery of election before coming to Jesus. Our responsibility is to hear His invitation, trust Him, and follow Him.

Chosen “In Him”

Paul does not merely say that we were chosen. He says that we were chosen “in Him.”

Jesus Christ is the Chosen One at the center of God’s eternal plan. Everyone who places faith in Christ becomes part of the people God determined to redeem, adopt, transform, and bring into His eternal Kingdom.

We might think of it this way: before the journey began, God determined the destination of everyone who would belong to His Son.

Those who are in Christ are destined to be:

• Forgiven through His blood
• Adopted into God’s family
• Transformed into Christ’s likeness
• Made holy and blameless before Him
• Given an eternal inheritance
• Gathered together with Christ forever

The focus of Ephesians 1 is not human pride. It is God’s amazing grace.

We cannot say, “God chose me because I was better than someone else.” None of us deserved salvation. We were chosen according to His grace and for His glory.

Chosen for a Purpose

Ephesians 1:4 does not simply say that we were chosen to escape judgment or go to Heaven. It says that we were chosen:

“That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

God did not save us merely to improve our earthly lives. He saved us to make us His own and transform the way we live.

We are saved by grace—not by good works—but the grace that saves us also begins changing us.

Being chosen is not an excuse for spiritual carelessness. It is a calling to holiness, love, obedience, and faithful service.

Paul explains this further in the next chapter:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
—Ephesians 2:10

Before the world began, God prepared the plan of salvation. He also prepared meaningful work for His redeemed children to accomplish.

You were not saved to sit on the sidelines. You were saved to walk with God and participate in His Kingdom purposes.

Predestined to Be Adopted

“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
—Ephesians 1:5

The word “predestined” can sound intimidating, but the destination described here is beautiful: adoption.

God decided beforehand what would happen to those who belong to Christ. They would not remain condemned strangers. They would become His beloved children.

Through Jesus, we are welcomed into the household of God.

Adoption means that God is not merely our Judge or Creator. He becomes our Heavenly Father. We are invited to speak with Him, walk with Him, depend upon Him, and know that we are loved by Him.

When I walk my dog, Sadie, and talk to my Heavenly Father as though He were walking beside me, I am enjoying the relationship Ephesians describes. Because of Jesus, we do not have to approach God as frightened outsiders. We can come to Him as His children.

That does not remove our reverence for Him. It deepens it. The almighty God who created the universe has invited us to call Him Father.

Accepted in the Beloved

“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
—Ephesians 1:6

Many people spend their lives seeking acceptance. They try to find it through accomplishments, possessions, appearances, relationships, or the approval of other people.

But lasting acceptance cannot be earned from the world. It is received in Christ.

Jesus is “the Beloved,” and when we belong to Him, we are accepted because of what He has done—not because we have performed perfectly.

This does not mean that everything we do is acceptable to God. Our Father still corrects, disciplines, and transforms His children. But our place in His family rests upon Christ’s righteousness rather than our flawless performance.

We obey Him because we are accepted—not in an attempt to earn acceptance.

Redeemed and Forgiven

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
—Ephesians 1:7

God’s eternal plan came at an immeasurable cost.

We were not redeemed with money, morality, religious achievement, or good intentions. We were redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.

To redeem means to purchase and release someone from bondage. Sin held us captive, and we could not free ourselves. Jesus paid the price necessary to set us free.

Our forgiveness is not based upon the smallness of our sins. It is based upon the greatness of God’s grace.

Paul does not say that God forgives us reluctantly or sparingly. He forgives us “according to the riches of His grace.”

His grace is greater than our guilt.

God’s Plan Is to Bring Everything Together in Christ

Ephesians 1 reveals the destination toward which history is moving:

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ.”
—Ephesians 1:10

The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories. From Genesis to Revelation, it reveals one unfolding plan.

God created humanity to live in fellowship with Him. Sin brought separation, death, and disorder. Jesus came to redeem what had been lost. One day, He will return and bring God’s redemptive plan to completion.

The New Heaven and New Earth will not be an afterthought. They will be the fulfillment of the purpose God established before the foundation of the world.

God desires to bring His children home—to live under His roof, so to speak, in perfect fellowship with Him forever.

Everything ultimately points to Jesus.

We Have an Eternal Inheritance

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance.”
—Ephesians 1:11

Our greatest inheritance is not something we possess on earth.

Everything here is temporary. Houses deteriorate. Money changes hands. Possessions wear out. Even our earthly bodies eventually return to the dust.

But our inheritance in Christ cannot be destroyed, stolen, or lost over time.

Our inheritance includes eternal life, resurrection, fellowship with Christ, citizenship in His Kingdom, and a place in the restored creation He has promised.

This should change the way we live today.

If our inheritance is in Heaven, we do not have to spend our lives desperately clinging to the things of earth. We are free to use our time, abilities, resources, and opportunities for purposes that will have eternal value.

Sealed With the Holy Spirit

“In whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
—Ephesians 1:13

Notice the order in this passage: they heard the Gospel, trusted in Christ, and were sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God’s seal of ownership upon the believer. He is also described as the guarantee—or down payment—of our inheritance.

“Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”
—Ephesians 1:14

God does not merely promise us an eternal future and then leave us alone until we arrive there. He places His Spirit within us.

The Holy Spirit assures us that we belong to God, helps us understand His Word, convicts us when we sin, strengthens us in temptation, and produces the character of Christ within us.

Our confidence does not rest upon our ability to hold tightly enough to God. It rests upon the God who has placed His seal upon us and is faithfully completing His work.

Chosen by Grace, Called to Faithfulness

Being chosen should never produce arrogance. It should produce worship, humility, gratitude, and faithful obedience.

Paul repeatedly says that these blessings are:

“To the praise of His glory.”

God chose us according to His grace. He redeemed us through His Son. He adopted us into His family. He sealed us with His Spirit. He prepared an inheritance for us and good works for us to accomplish.

Therefore, the proper response is not to boast about being chosen. The proper response is to ask:

“Father, how do You want me to live today?”

We are not working to become chosen. We are working because, in Christ, we have already been loved, accepted, and given a purpose.

Salvation is a gift of grace. Faithful living is our grateful response.

What If I Wonder Whether I Am Chosen?

Some people read Ephesians 1 and become worried:

“What if I am not one of the chosen?”

But Scripture does not tell us to search for a secret list in Heaven. It tells us to look to Jesus.

Do you recognize your need for Him? Do you desire His forgiveness? Are you willing to turn from trusting yourself and place your faith in His death and resurrection?

Then come to Him.

Jesus said:

“The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
—John 6:37

No one who sincerely comes to Christ will be rejected because his or her name was supposedly missing from a hidden list. The invitation is genuine, and Jesus is faithful to receive everyone who comes to Him in faith.

Our assurance is found in Christ—not in our ability to explain every mystery of God’s eternal counsel.

Were You Chosen Before the World Began?

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, Ephesians Chapter 1 gives you every reason to say:

“Yes. God’s plan to redeem a people in Christ was established before the foundation of the world, and by His grace, I have been brought into that eternal purpose.”

God knew the end from the beginning. He knew the cost of our redemption. He knew that His Son would go to the cross. He knew that the tomb would be empty. He knew that the Gospel would reach us.

Our salvation began in His heart before the world began, was accomplished by Jesus at the cross, became ours when we believed, and will be completed when Christ brings us into His presence.

That truth should not merely fill our minds with questions. It should fill our hearts with wonder.

Before you ever thought about God, He had already prepared the way for sinners to be reconciled to Him.

Before you performed one good work, He had already prepared good works for you to walk in.

Before you took your first breath, God’s eternal purpose in Christ had already been established.

You were chosen in Christ—but you were also chosen for something: to become holy, to walk in love, to bear spiritual fruit, to serve faithfully, and to live for the praise of His glory.

The question is not only, “Was I chosen before the world began?”

The question we must now ask is:

“Since God has graciously brought me into His eternal plan, how will I live for Him today?”

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating a plan of redemption before the foundation of the world. Thank You for choosing to save, adopt, forgive, and transform everyone who belongs to Your Son. Thank You that my salvation rests upon the finished work of Jesus and not upon my own goodness.

Help me to understand the hope of Your calling and the riches of the inheritance You have prepared for Your children. Teach me to live as someone chosen for holiness, love, obedience, and faithful service. May my life bring praise to Your glory as I wait for the day when Your eternal plan is fully completed in Christ.

In Jesus’ name, amen.