Easter—the Promise of Forgiveness: 10 Reflections From Our Daily BreadSample

Chosen, Loved, and Valued

We are united with Christ . . . for he chose us. -Ephesians 1:11

In the 1981 film Chariots of Fire (recounting the 1924 Olympics competition between two British athletes, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams), Liddell explains why he runs: “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Abrahams (who faced lifelong ridicule as a Jewish immigrant) gives a very different reason. Running, he admitted, provided “ten lonely seconds to justify my whole existence.” Abrahams felt he had to run, to succeed in competition, to prove the value of his life.

Scripture tells us that we have value because God has made us His children, not because of anything we offer or accomplish. “God . . . has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” without any thought to what we might extend in return (Ephesians 1:3). God set His eyes on us simply because it “gave him great pleasure” to make us His own (v. 5). We don’t earn God’s generosity by cleaning ourselves up, doing good works, or by honing our morality. No, “God loved us” and has sovereignly invited us to be part of His family (vv. 4–5). He “purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins” (v. 7). Our value comes not because of anything we do for God but because of what He’s already made possible for us by His death and resurrection.

God’s unbounded love is good news in a world always judging our value. His love is a gift; our job is to receive it. This Easter, may we reflect on the wonder of His love for us.

Winn Collier

When have you felt the need to earn acceptance or prove your value? How does knowing God loved you before you were born contradict this?

Dear God, I’m exhausted trying to earn my place in this world. Thank You for proving how much You really love me by going to the cross for me.