See if you see a pattern in these two verses....

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight...."
(Ephesians 1:4)

"In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will..."
(Ephesians 1:11)

Ok, so if you read the title, you know what I am getting at here. I'm not going to touch the predestined thing for fear of the circular argument that it brings about, but rather emphasize the words "chose" and "chosen". I was reading Ephesians this afternoon and ran across these two verses and was struck by that word. I have written about this before, but it gets me everytime. And in light of the whole predestined thing, just think about it. "Before the creation of the world" He chose us. He chose me. He chose you. All who love and obey Him, He has chosen us...out of everyone in the world, throughout history and the future, He chose me. With me in mind, He sent His Son to die a most shameful death on the cross. Why does a bride shine on her wedding day? Yes, she is in love. Yes, it is the happiest day of her life. But even more, she is loved...she is chosen by that man. Sometimes things in life make us question if God really loves us...but just remember, before all creation, He chose YOU to love and to give the life of His Son for. I don't know about you, but that melts away all of the hardness I feel in my heart in those times.