Picked on Purpose – August 5, 2026
Read: Ephesians 1:3-10
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:4-5a
Picked on Purpose
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let’s all admit it feels good to be picked for something. Maybe you get picked to be the line leader at school, or you get picked to help make cookies. Maybe your coach picks you to take the first kick in soccer. Or maybe someone picks you to choose the movie for family movie night, which is a very big responsibility. Use that power wisely!
But not being picked can really hurt. When everyone else gets chosen first, and you’re the only one left, it can make you feel small, forgotten, or not important.
But did you catch something in today’s Scripture? Something amazing? God picked you.
The thing is, God didn’t pick you the way people sometimes pick teams at recess. He wasn’t looking for the fastest runner, the strongest kid, or the person who knew all the rules perfectly. God did not choose you because you were better than someone else. God picked you in Jesus. And he picked you on purpose.
Paul, who wrote the book of Ephesians, says God chose his people “before the creation of the world.” That means before there were mountains to climb, oceans to swim in, puppies to cuddle, pizza to eat, stars to gaze at, or even one bug crawling on the ground, God already knew you. God already loved you. God already had a plan to bring you into his family through Jesus.
Why would God do that? The answer is “grace.” Grace means that God loved you in Jesus, not because you earned it or deserved it. Not because you won a contest or passed a test. You didn’t impress God be being better than everyone else. God’s grace, shown through Jesus’ perfect life, innocent death, and victorious resurrection, is the reason he chose you. Because of Jesus, you are redeemed, forgiven, and richly blessed as a member of God’s family.
Sometimes people wonder, “Does God really care about me?” Ephesians gives us the answer: YES—absolutely! God’s love for you didn’t just start yesterday; it didn’t start when you were born. It didn’t even start when the world began. God chose you in Christ before the world began.
So, when you feel like the last person waiting to be picked, remember this: You are not forgotten; you are not an accident. You are not someone God barely noticed. In Jesus, you are picked on purpose—for his purpose—and you will always belong to him.
Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for choosing us in Jesus and making us your children. When we feel forgotten or unimportant, help us remember your love that began before the world was made. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- Act it out: Show what your face might look like when someone picks you for something special.
- Finish this sentence together: “In Jesus, God ________ me!”
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- Name one time when being picked for something made you feel happy. Why did it feel good?
- What does the word “grace” mean? And how does remembering that help when you feel left out or forgotten?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- How is being chosen by God different from being chosen for a team, award, or position?
- How does knowing you were chosen in Christ “before the creation of the world” help answer the fear that God might forget you?
