Chosen....
Ephes. 1:11-14 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
It’s an incredible thought to know that we have been chosen by God. It never ceases to blow my mind that the Bible is full of declarations that even before we knew about God, he knew about us and had already called us to be part of his family and was preparing a place for us to serve and worship him.
Sometimes we can lose sight of this. Sometimes we get caught up in a ‘do we choose God or does he choose us’ argument. And then we can sometimes start to question the fairness of God in choosing some people, but not choosing others. But when this happens we loose sight of why the Bible declares that he chooses us.
When these letters were written, the people who received them were often the poor, the downtrodden and frequently those suffering from oppression and persecution. When they heard that god had chosen them, not the significant, rich and powerful, it would have brought them hope and comfort, reminding them that God was on their side. Paul lists a number of promises here: we are chosen; when we responded to the Gospel we became part of God’s family in Jesus; that we receive the Holy Spirit and he is a sign that God has called us.
We should receive the same hope and comfort, bolstered by the promises God gives us. And then our response should be one of worship.
It’s an incredible thought to know that we have been chosen by God. It never ceases to blow my mind that the Bible is full of declarations that even before we knew about God, he knew about us and had already called us to be part of his family and was preparing a place for us to serve and worship him.
Sometimes we can lose sight of this. Sometimes we get caught up in a ‘do we choose God or does he choose us’ argument. And then we can sometimes start to question the fairness of God in choosing some people, but not choosing others. But when this happens we loose sight of why the Bible declares that he chooses us.
When these letters were written, the people who received them were often the poor, the downtrodden and frequently those suffering from oppression and persecution. When they heard that god had chosen them, not the significant, rich and powerful, it would have brought them hope and comfort, reminding them that God was on their side. Paul lists a number of promises here: we are chosen; when we responded to the Gospel we became part of God’s family in Jesus; that we receive the Holy Spirit and he is a sign that God has called us.
We should receive the same hope and comfort, bolstered by the promises God gives us. And then our response should be one of worship.
posted by Gordon at
7:35 am
1 Comments:
I know I've already said this lately but reading this passage makes me feel safe. No matter what is happening to me in this world, I have a God who has chosen me, who is big enough to work "out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" and I am guaranteed an eternal inheritance which I can be sure about because of the Holy Spirit. Not knowing what will happen next doesn't seem overwhelming when I know/remember all that.
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Louise, at 11:43 am
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