Topic: Why God Created the Universe [RICK WARREN Devotional 11 August 2022]
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Why God Created the Universe
BY RICK WARREN — AUGUST 11, 2022
FROM AWESOME RELATIONSHIPS
“Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us . . . His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us.”
Ephesians 1:4-5 (TLB)
The whole reason God created the universe is because he wanted a family—and that family is the church. His church is the only reason the universe exists.
Did you know that before God thought of the universe, he thought of you? That’s how valuable you are; that’s how much you matter to God.
How can you tell something is really valuable to someone? By looking at what they’re willing to pay for it. Christ died for the church. When someone’s willing to give their life for something, it has incredible value.
The Bible says, “Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us . . . His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us” (Ephesians 1:4-5 TLB).
Long before God made the world, his unchanging plan has been to accomplish his purposes through the church—not through nations, governments, or corporations. Earthly institutions are temporary, and they’re not big enough to tackle all the global problems. Only the church is big enough. And only the church will last forever.
Let’s put this in perspective. It’s estimated there are about 2.5 billion Christians in the world today. That’s more people than live in China, the world’s most populous country.
So, not only does the church have the greatest participation on the planet, but it also has the highest motivation: God’s love. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us” (NIV).
Isn’t it incredible to know that the church, the whole reason God created the universe, is motivated by God’s love? That’s just another reason why there is no greater privilege than to be part of God’s family.
Talk It Over
- How does it make you feel to know that God thought of you first, even before he created the universe?
- In what ways is God using you to accomplish his purposes through the church?
- How has God’s love motivated you to serve others?
If you’ve never invited Christ into your life, you can pray this simple prayer today: “God, I realize I need you. I want to put you first in every area of my life. Please put your Spirit in my life. I confess I have sinned against you, and I ask that you forgive all my sins and help me to follow you. I want to learn to trust you and love you. And I want to see and fulfill your vision, purpose, and plan for my life. Please accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you’ve already prayed that prayer, then you can say to God, “Father, today I want to switch from eyes of fear to eyes of faith. I want to trust you, to expect great things from you, and to attempt great things for you. I want to be a person of vision, and I ask you to give me your vision. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
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