His Choice (Ephesians 1:4)

PICKED

Almost everyone has experienced the selection of team members, in childhood sports; choosing sides, and being picked to play on one side or the other. It's always a good feeling to be chosen, because of some skill or talent, or just because the one doing the choosing, perhaps just really likes you.

EPHESIANS 1:4 says that, "...He chose us in Him, before the founding of the world, for us to be holy and unblemished before Him in love."

MILITARY

(Eklegomai) is the middle voice of (eklego), 'to pick out', or 'to choose', originating in military vocabulary, and contains the following shades of meaning:

SELFISHLY

The middle voice means that the subject of the verb, our Father, acted in His own self interest. If it could be actually said of our Father, He "selfishly" chose you. In other words, He wanted you for Himself, nobody else, and He made sure that He picked you.

WANTED

Like the military usage, from which the word originates, He chose you to be for His use and purpose; available as He needed; wanted; and desired.

HIGH VALUE

His choosing you was not out of compulsion or constraint. The word denotes 'a totally free, unrestrained action', initiated by His own will. He wanted you, and no one was forcing His selection. It was a well thought out action that placed a high value on you; His ultimate choice.

GRAINS of SAND

What is also true of the word, is that there were innumerable choices. It wasn't like there was a limited selection, and He had to take what He could get. In fact, the opposite is true. He had an infinite group to chose from and He chose you. He viewed all the options; all the mass of possibilities, like grains of sand on the sea shore, and saw something extremely valuable in you, and picked you for His team.

BEST CHOICE

Further to the fact, is that He chose you for a specific and defined purpose. He recognized that you were created unique, and that He had endowed you with specific characteristics; talent; and personality, and only you could fulfill the necessary task He had in mind. It didn't matter how many multiplied millions of other options there were, only you were designed and destined to accomplish His necessary plan. You were, without question, the "best choice", for the job.

INDIVIDUALLY

Another truth, is that, even though the pronoun is plural [i.e., "us"], what is very emphatic, is that the collective "us", were not collectively chosen, but each of "us", individually, were chosen. You were individually and specifically chosen.

BEFORE

What is an even more staggering, is that this was all "...before the foundation of the world...".

FOUNDATION

Foundation is the Greek word (katabole), from (kata), "down", and (bole), "to throw". It literally means "to throw down", and is used:

- of throwing down seed into the ground [sowing]

- throwing down seed into a female [conception]

- giving birth to a new idea [a person's thoughts]

- stones being thrown down for the foundation or starting point of a building.

THINKING about YOU

The implication is that before our Father even conceived the idea of a world; a planet; He was thinking about, and choosing you, and because He chose you, He birthed a world, even a universe, for you.

BEFOREHAND

Even though Adam was created on the earth, after every necessity of the earth was provided for him, you and I, and every conceivable person, was chosen, in Him, beforehand, and then the world was created, for our enjoyment; pleasure; and use.

CHOOSE

(eklegomai), "to choose", [1586, Strong's], "to select", is derived from (ek), "out from", [1537], and (lego), "to lay forth", [3004], speaking of 'something systematic'.

SYSTEMATICALLY

Very systematically, our Father weighed all the options; all the considerations; all the consequences; all the possible outcomes, and without a doubt or regret, He chose you.

FAVOR

A final implication, is that His choosing you was for a special favor and privilege. It was His way of honoring you, and distinguishing you from all the rest.

MARK of DISTINCTION

The word was originally used of the conscription of men for military service, but specifically the selection of individuals from the whole army, for a particularly difficult, but glorious mission, that was regarded as a mark of distinction.

BENEFIT of ALL

In keeping with this thought, the fulfillment of this task would greatly affect, the positive outcome of the whole army. Furthermore, the whole army, or group, of which they were a part, would do everything possible, to help and assist, the individuals, chosen for the mission, to develop their special gifts and talents, for the benefit of all. You truly are His best in every facet; form; and function.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours