The Shepherd's Selection (Ephesians 1:4)

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

SELECTED

He selected us out from a mass of choices (eklegomai), before the founding of the world (kataboles).

SPECIFIC

Previous in time and order, He selected us, for a very specific task and purpose, very selfishly, because He wanted us for Himself, to be prized and valued by Him; and because He chose us, He created a place for us. We were not an after thought, but rather, because we were already on His mind, He had to have some place to put us; someplace for us to be cherished; admired; and someplace for Him to enjoy fellowship with us, so He created a universe, for us, not to be a part of, as some insignificant minor addition, but rather, somewhere to place His crown jewel in all creation...you and I.

HOLY without BLEMISH

The scripture says that He selected us to be holy (hagious) and without any blemish (amomos).

BEST of ALL

These Greek words are used in the selection of the choicest sacrifices given to God. In other words, they are terms describing selection of animals that were spotless; without any imperfections; the very best of all the possible choices; above all, to be chosen to be offered in an act of worship.

PERFECTION

What is generally missed, is that this is how our Father sees us, not how we are eventually going to be; or how, through time and effort, we will become, but rather, this is His present view of who we are. He doesn't see anything wrong with us. He only sees us in perfection.

MOST VALUED

The idea is that He selected us, before He created anything else. In fact, He had to create everything else, for us. But, He chose us, because, of all else, we were separated to Him (holy), and there were no imperfections (amomos), before Him (katenopion autou). Right down, in front of His gaze of love and amazement, He saw us, and after close examination, and the utmost scrutiny and detailed inspection, He could find no fault; no imperfection; nothing offensive; nothing lacking, only perfection, like the best choice of all possible selection, for the sacrifice of worship. Seeing only the best, He chose us, as the most valued; the most prized; the absolute best of perfection; out of His act of love.

CHOSEN ONE

To visually comprehend His choice, in a very finite manner, the imagery is of the loving shepherd, sifting through thousands of His flock; examining every foot; every eye; every intricate detailed aspect of the sacrificial lamb. The selection has to be just right. There can be absolutely no blemish; no imperfection; no reflection of any aspect, that would demean His choice, or cause Him to pass over the chosen one, in favor of another.

WORSHIP

Finally, after exhausting examination, of countless possibilities, one is chosen, that has absolutely nothing repulsive or lacking, but is quite the opposite; the best of all innumerable possibilities, to be selected for the sacrifice of worship.

HIS FAVORITE

This is how the Father sees each one of us, as His absolute favorite; the crown of His perfection; loving us as He loves Jesus (John 17:23).

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