Wired for His Way
Life only functions rightly when connected to the source it was designed for—in Christ.
Devotional Credit: From In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
E. Stanley Jones reflects on Ephesians 1:4—“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”—and wrestles with what it means to be predestined to be His. His conclusion is heartfelt: we were made to function best in Christ. Our bodies, our minds, our emotions, even our relationships, flourish when they operate according to the way of Christ. When we live in contradiction to that divine pattern, we experience the inevitable breakdown of peace, joy, and wholeness.
While Jones uses the language of individual predestination, we can understand Paul’s words through the lens of corporate identity in Christ. God’s eternal plan was not a selective choice of individuals to salvation, but the gracious establishment of a people in Christ, a chosen corporate body into which all are invited by faith. We are not pre-programmed for belief, but rather, God lovingly crafted humanity to find true life in Christ—and we experience fullness when we respond to that invitation.
Jones rightly observes that we cannot live contrary to Christ without living contrary to how we were made. We were designed for union, not separation. When we resist the life of Christ, we resist our own wholeness. But when we yield, trust, and abide in Him, everything begins to work as it should.
God’s blueprint was written long before our birth, not for select individuals, but for a people who would be holy and blameless in Christ. We enter into that destiny not by compulsion, but by responding to His call with trust. And once we are in Him, we find that we’re finally home.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
From the very beginning, the Father set forth a plan—a purpose hidden for ages but now revealed in Me. His desire was to gather all things into one family, under one Head—Christ. This purpose was not selective, but redemptive. All who believe enter into the blessings He prepared in Me before time began.
You are part of that chosen people, holy and beloved, not because you earned a position, but because you’ve responded to the grace freely offered. I did not come to exclude but to include, to bring many sons and daughters to glory. Now that you are Mine, your heart beats in rhythm with the life you were made for.
You were created to abide in Me. That’s why anything outside of Me feels fractured and disjointed. You were never meant to carry the weight of life on your own. I in you—that is the secret. When you yield, you align. When you trust, you thrive. My peace rules. My joy abounds. My love flows freely.
You are not walking toward destiny; you are walking in it. The life you now live is hidden with Me in God. Walk worthy of that calling—not by striving, but by resting in who I am in you.
Scriptures: Ephesians 1:4-11, Colossians 1:18-20, Romans 8:29-30, 2 Timothy 1:9, John 15:4-5, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3-4, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Romans 5:18-19, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 3:9-11
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine trying to plug a three-pronged cord into a two-pronged outlet—it simply doesn’t fit. The appliance might be powerful and well-designed, but unless it connects with the outlet it was shaped for, it remains inactive. That’s how life feels when lived outside of Christ. You were made to connect—not perform on your own power.
Today, if you find yourself frustrated, short-tempered, or confused, pause and remember that you're not the source—you’re the vessel. Quietly surrender and say, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life in me and through me in this moment.”Whether you’re walking into a meeting, facing a difficult conversation, or doing the dishes—connect, and let Him work through you.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You for Your eternal purpose in Christ—that before the foundation of the world, You prepared a place for those who would be in Him. I praise You for including me in that body, not by merit but by mercy.
You knew what I needed before I ever knew You. You crafted me to function in union with Christ, and now that I am in Him, I see how everything begins to align. I rest in Your provision, confident that I’m not trying to become someone—I already am Yours. You are the One working in me both to will and to do according to Your good pleasure. I yield to You now with joy.