Chosen & Adopted

Date: October 19, 2026

As we begin six days walking through Ephesians, it helps to see the whole letter laid out. Watch the BibleProject overview of Ephesians by clicking here.

Readings: Ephesians 1 | Psalm 93

Paul's letter to the Ephesians has a beautiful movement, loaded with epic memory verses that have surely been tattooed on hearts of many saints. In chapters 1–3, Paul focuses largely on identity and grace. Who God is, what God has done for us in Christ, and who we have become because of it. Then, in chapters 4–6, Paul turns toward the life that flows from that grace. How people who have been loved, saved, and united to Christ now live. The order matters. The Christian life doesn't begin with Do better. It begins with Look at what God has done.

That's exactly where Paul begins: God has “chosen us in Christ” and “destined us for adoption.” Before we accomplish anything, prove anything, fix anything, or even respond to God, grace comes first. Psalm 93 reminds us why that is such good news: “The Lord reigns.” The waters may rise and the world around us may feel uncertain, but God remains firmly on his throne. And in his reigning, God has chosen to call us his children. So before you think about what you need to accomplish today, remember whose you are. You are not working toward belonging; in Christ, you are living from belonging.

Devotional Prompts:

• What are some things you tend to base your identity or worth on? How does knowing you are chosen and adopted by God change that?
• Where in your life do you need to trust that God is still on his throne, even when circumstances feel uncertain?

Prayer: Father, quiet the voices that tell me my worth comes from what I accomplish. Help me rest today in the grace that you've lavished on me. Let that grace shape the way I live as you remind me that I belong to you.