clmitchell13

Adoption is a great illustration of God's relationship to us because technically we are born from our mother and father, and they become our earthly parents. However, God loves us so much and desires to have us apart of his heavenly, spiritual family that he "adopts" us. He invites us to be a part of his family. He does not force us, but lets us know that he will not go anywhere or leave us no matter how long it takes us to decide. Then when we do decide to be apart of His amazing family, He loves us as His own, He loves us as if we have been with Him forever. He takes care of us and chooses us!! To me the concept of adoption is encouraging because it means that He sought after me. He CHOSE Me!! When parents give birth to children, they do not get to choose their child. Their child is whatever baby came from the mother's womb. However, in adoption, the adoptive parents are able to choose. They get to pick the child they want sometimes, but more importantly they choose to have a child. Unfortuately, in this world, parents do not always get pregnant or give birth because they want to. So all of this to me means, God wants ME as his princess!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!

Holy...1) consecrated or set aside for sacred use 2) standing apart from sin and evil 3) sanctity or purity To me holy means being set apart for the purposes of fullfilling God's will. It's also living a life by God's standards and not the world's standards. The only time that we will truly be blameless before God, is either when we are in Heaven praising Him, and when Jesus comes back. However, in a sense we can stand blameless before God if we attain to live a life of holiness. If we are real and repent when we fail. If our hearts are set apart and sanctified for Jesus and His purposes. If we stay on the path of righetousness and do not waiver, then in a sense we can stand blameless before God. (Phillippians 1:10 & Colossians 1:22).

The only thing that I can think could be scary about predestination is if God was not the one with the plan. To me predestination would only be scary if it was determined by the devil or by man, but since everything is predestined by our wonderful, holy and loving God, then it's not scary. It is comforting to me, and I have learned this many times, because God's plans are so much better and greater than anything the human mind could come up with or put into action themselves. Sometimes I think I know what I want and what is best for me and then God shows up and has a different plan, that exceeds anything I could have imagined. It's also comforting because in my translation (NLT) it says, "And this gave him great pleasure." God delights in having a good and perfect plan for us and bringing it to pass. He chose us! Why do I think Paul brings up predestination?... I think because he was talking about spiritual blessings and God adopting us, he wanted to make the point, that all of this was God's plan from the beginning. Again my translation says that even before God made the world, He chose us! I think the Paul is praising God for it because he knows where he would be if it were not for our Lord's grace and mercy. I know full well that I have had the same moments where it hits me, that the places I would probably be right now, would not be for my best. But God... I love that phrase, but God. But God, showed up, took me under His wing, loved me unconditionally, and is currently fullfilling His purposes for my life. I'm with Paul...PRAISE YOU, JESUS!!!!

To me being in Christ means that everything I am and everything I have is because of Christ. Being "in Christ" means that I am just a small part that follows His leading. It's like in an airplane you have a pilot and a co-pilot. However, God is so powerful and such an experienced "pilot" that he does not need a co-pilot. Instead, we just get to sit there and let Him take us and guide us to wherever. The implications for my life is to know that His plans are so much better and greater than anything I could ever come up with, that I need to completely trust him. It's also that in my own strength I cannot do anything, but In Christ, anything is possible. Thank you Jesus.

Hi, I'm excited to be starting this online bible study, it is my first one. I'm from Pennsylvania, but I currently live in Virginia. I am 22 years old and just graduated from Radford University in May 2006. I am very excited about this lesson and I am expecting God to use it to change me.