Chosen, adopted, redeemed for God's purpose/ anatomy of appreciation

• John 1:12 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:14 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:15 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:16 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:17 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:18 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:19 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:20 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:21 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:22 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:23 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:24 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:25 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:29 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:30 (NLT)
• 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NLT)
• Galatians 4:5 (NLT)
• Galatians 4:6 (NLT)
• Galatians 4:7 (NLT)
• Galatians 6:10 (NLT)
• Galatians 6:16 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:1 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:2 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:6 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:7 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:8 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:9 (NLT)
• Ephesians 1:10 (NLT)
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)
• 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (NLT)
• Revelation 1:8 (NLT)

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I need to appreciate all that God has done for me, and the church that He allowed me to be in. The average church member doesn't attach high value to the church. The book of Ephesians reminds me that the church is the body of believers; it is the people. The whole universe was created with Christ and the church in mind. The term, "saint" refers to those who have been set apart; first used to represent the israelites, then used to represent the faithful members of the church. The reason I don't value the church is because I don't understand the church.

1. 
   You were chosen. God chose them that chose to choose Him. God selected me before I made a conscious decision to obey Him.
   
2. 
   You were adopted. God made me accepted into His family. I'm an heir. I've been placed as a child, given the blessings of a child that weren't naturally mine. As one who is adopted, my adoption is permanent, immediate, and I lose all rights to my previous family (the world).
   
3. 
   You are redeemed. God wants to save me. He created the world so that the world may serve Him.
   

So many times, we get caught up in the ACTS of worship, that we forget WHY we worship. Sometimes we forget the anatomy of the church-the traits that make up the church. The church isn't brick and mortar, but the people. Things to remember:

1. 
   "In whom." To appreciate Christ and the church, I must remember that everything must revolve around Christ. I can't worship, live, nor move without Christ.
   
2. 
   "We." I must also appreciate the people. I can't appreciate Christ without appreciating the people. In order to appreciate the people, I must take the focus off ME and put the focus on WE. Each and every member is essential and vital. God's work will be done with or without me.
   
3. 
   "have redemption through his blood." I must appreciate the process. I can't change the process, everyone must go the same way. Without the blood, salvation will be irrelevant.
   
4. 
   "The forgiveness of sins." I must appreciate the promise.
   
5. 
   "According to the riches of His grace." I must appreciate the plan. The plan was drafted before time began.
   

I can't have any of these things without appreciation of them all.

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