“This is what He wanted to do and it gave Him great pleasure.”

(Ephesians 1:5b NLT)

Every day people are in search of someone to love.  Someone to care for and be cared for by.  They have an image in their heads of size, hair color, personality, affection and security.  Most often, though, that plan is reduced to a simple statement of “I will know it when I see it.”

It is this search for not just a companion, but someone to take great care for, that sends many right past the specialty shops in the mall.  Right past the big box gatherings.  Right past the matches of pure perfection and straight to the misfit mutt at the local pound.

Yes, I am talking about a puppy.  Or am I?

Amongst the human race, especially in these turbulent times, are many of us who feel very much like that “misfit mutt.”   Discarded, dumped off, found in the streets.   Caged in less than perfect circumstances and looked over because you might not be as gifted or trained as another.  You might be that one with the good heart, but prone to stain filled mistakes. You might be the one full of painful worms of abuse, hoping someone will notice and help.  Mangy, angry or docile.  Overused and unable to produce.   Though you have learned to beg and do stupid human tricks, your “best in show” blue ribbon escapes you.

Until the One “who knows you ….when He sees you” comes!

In Ephesians Chapter 1, Big Brother Paul encourages us that God already had an image of you in His mind. No matter what you may have done to make yourself unrecognizable, “God decided in advance to adopt (you) into His own family by bringing (you) to himself…This is what He wanted to do and it gave Him great pleasure.” (^V5NLT)

That alone should make your tail wag!  Your “pound rescue” includes so much! God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, adopts you as His own and gives us every good spiritual blessing as He unites us with Christ.   Some of your “tags” in Christ are outlined in Paul’s letter:

^V4:  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes

^V6 “….glorious grace He has poured out on us”

^V7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

^{V 8} He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

^V11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,^[c] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

^V13 “……Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own^“

^{V 14} The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him

Take a quick moment if you will.   Reread the parts I have underlined on your adoption certificate.  Now take a praise break knowing that the Creator of the Universe, The Savior of the World, the King of Glory, promises all of this just to bring you “Home” with Him.

It gives Him great pleasure to be with you.

All He is asking in exchange is that you receive His love for you.  No matter how imperfect or less than worthy you feel right now ……come on out the cage!

No matter how far back in the pound you feel, Christ took your place at the Cross.  You don’t need to worry about life “putting you to “sleep.”

Don’t worry, He will never keep you tied up or on a leash, He wants you to experience the freedom of a daily walk with Him.   He will provide.  He will care for you.  He will be your security.

Best of all, you can stop chasing your tail now.  God has a plan for you!  He chose you….. in advance!