"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, in accordance with His pleasure and will — to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us." Ephesians 1:4-8 (NIV)

God drafts people. And He drafts really, really well … better than the NBA. He wants to know and to be known. He longs to love and be loved. He wants real fulfillment and praise passed around for eternity. He aims for wins. He's after you and me.

Why does He draft? What does He see in us? What's His game plan? Ephesians 1 clues us in. Here's the deal:

BIG DEAL — God's draft picks are big deals. They're actually adoptions, like guaranteed, long-term contracts. And everyone goes first-round with Him. He's in it to win it with us, with no backing out. His voluntary adoption plan was hatched millenniums ago. He longs to share the riches of His grace with us. It sure feels great to be wanted by God!

SEES SOMETHING GREAT — When God drafts, He drafts well. He doesn't miss on His picks. God masterfully develops the talent He drafts. Whoever is invited to His roster is headed for greatness, a greatness that amazingly includes holiness and blamelessness. How's that for growth and development!

MADE FOR PRAISE — Like winning an Olympic medal pushes praise back to the competitor's country (and coach), growth in our lives yields praise back to God. It makes us living trophies, trophies of His grace. Our highest purpose becomes praise.

PART OF A BIG STORY — God drafts us, recruits us, to become part of a bigger story, His story of redemption. When His redeeming blood is applied to us, when we receive forgiveness of sins, not only do our lives radically change; God's championship story over the enemy, the grave, death, hell, eternal condemnation gets told yet again, through us, and the legend that's true lives on!

Reflect: How are you seeing yourself? Do you see yourself like God does — as a great draft pick, fully adopted, headed for greatness? Are you understanding that you're made for praise and part of a bigger, wonderful story?

Prayer to consider today: LORD, Your Word touches me deeply today. I can hardly believe you have such plans for me, for us. I purpose to live to the praise of Your glory and be part of Your glorious story. Let me be Your trophy. Any medal I get is Yours.