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

 

Pray for our country.

 

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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