God Has Chosen
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God Has Chosen
Yesterday I saw a car filled with all sorts of hateful bumper stickers. One in particular expressed the idea that the driver’s main intent in life was to provoke anger in religious people and to defeat them. That is the nice way of stating it. The language used on that bumper sticker was actually very filthy. With such a put down, Christians who come in contact with such a person might wonder about their worth in life.
To the unbelieving world, Christianity is stupid and only for the weak and feeble — they sneer at the idea of having faith in Jesus and asking for forgiveness of sins. But, Paul tells us about God’s workings with the people in this world. In 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, Paul wrote,
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God.
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”
We know just what ordinary people we are. We are sinners, like everyone else. Though others might not admit their sins, we confess this truth, because to deny it would make us a liar. The world sees us as foolish, weak, base, worthless, and despised. But, the world is unable to see that “God has chosen” us to come to faith and be His dear children for all eternity.
If the world chooses to see us as foolish and weak, that will be to their eternal shame. If the world chooses to see us as being base (that is to be contemptible, inferior, and worthless), something to be despised, that’s okay, because in actuality “God has chosen” us to nullify all the “important” people of this world. God is using our seeming foolishness and weakness to show all the arrogant people that they are the ones who are actually the foolish, weak, base, and despised ones in God’s eyes. It’s quite the turn around.
But, none of that gives us any reason to boast. We don’t have anything to boast about because we would be the same as every unbeliever, if God had not chosen us. It is only because “God has chosen” us that our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds have been opened up to realize the filthiness of our sinful nature, and caused us to ask God to mercifully forgive all our sins for Jesus’ sake — just as He promised.
It is all because of God’s love and mercy that we have been drawn to put our faith in Jesus. We have no reason to strut around as if we’re so righteous in coming to faith. Romans 5:8 points out,
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:19 also tells us,
We love, because He first loved us.
As the chosen of God Almighty, we can only boast in all that God has done for us since the beginning to bring about our salvation in Jesus Christ. It was all foretold, and then, all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. What can we say, except to always glorify God for all that He has done for us.
As the world mocks us and makes fun of us, we say, “Hallelujah! Lord, thank You for choosing us out of this world to be Your dear children and experience the glories of spending eternity with You in heaven.”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods
This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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