The thought of knowing that we have been chosen by God to be His very own; chosen to represent our merciful God to others can be so overwhelming to think about because we know we are so unworthy of His patient and tender love. As humans, it is hard for us to understand this kind of mercy that has been freely given and shown to us. However, when we accept Christ into our hearts as our loving Savior, we at that point become restored to our Father. We are acceptable before Him and considered His precious child (John 1:12). Our value comes from being one of God's precious children, not from what we can achieve or what we can do. Our entire worth comes from what God does in us; from being His very own. We belong to, are valued by, and unconditionally loved by God. Yes, we have sin in our lives, but through Christ we are made clean and therefore are not condemned (Rom.3:23-26). He died in our place so that we could be pardoned, delivered, and freed from the bondage of sin. So that we could truly be the people of God. ---- I will make you my own special people, and I will be your God. Exodus 6:7a
It is so amazing to know that God chose us before we were born to be His people. He knows all we have done and all we will ever do. Yet, in spite of ourselves, we are still chosen. He desires to fellowship with us and to give us love as we have never known it. He desires to use us for His glory so that we may help others come to know His saving grace. We are the proof of that saving grace. For if He could choose us when we weren't so lovable, then there is hope for all and they need to see that hope by what He has done for us. ------- Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4
As His people, we are truly a new creation. The old self is dead and we can rejoice in knowing that we are no longer under the condemnation that the old sinful self could bring (Romans 8:1). We are God's creation. We've been endowed with His benevolence; the tenderness of His heart which overlooks any and all injuries we have caused Him, and because of this we do not have to think of ourselves or others as inferior work. It is easy to tear ourselves down and feel worthless, but when we do this we are saying that God made a mistake. God does not make mistakes -- He makes masterpieces (Ephesians 2:10). To the Lord, those of us that are renewed in Christ are truly a masterpiece. Isn't that wonderful to know that we are a most valued piece of art by the greatest artist that ever was? We are transformed to His image daily as we seek Him out for our lives. Nothing will separate us from His love or can keep His plans for us from being accomplished. ----- And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us everything He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. This is just one more reason to praise our glorious God. Ephesians 1:13-14
So now we have a choice. A choice to die to our old selves by not intoxicating ourselves with things that cause us not to see, hear or feel; a choice not to live a dissolute, irregular course of life where we spend our time wandering in pursuit of selfish ambition. A choice where we accept His mercy and forgiveness and live a life filled with the Spirit; anointed with new eyes that see more, new ears that hear more, and a new heart that cares more. Or we can go our own way and choose not to experience a life filled with the presence of the One who knows us, the One who loves us, the One who freely extends an unconditional love that is beyond comprehension. We need to choose to live for Him, knowing that Christ died so we could have this fulness (Col. 2:9). He suffered so that we would no longer be enslaved to the bondage we have been held captive to. He has so much to offer if we are just willing to accept His perfect love. He has showered us with His kindness, mercy, and understanding (Eph. 1:8). Through the atoning blood of Jesus we have been given a gift of salvation that could not be earned on our own merit, but we can gain it by receiving Christ as our Savior (Eph. 1:7) and letting Him be our Lord. Because of this great sacrifice we can come before God with confidence and know He will welcome us. Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of His glad welcome. Ephesians 3:12
Oh the blessings that our loving Father wants to pour out on us! Come to Him, accept this perfect love. May we learn who we are in Christ and receive the inheritance set aside for us as chosen children of God. For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep within our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. And since we are His children, we will share His treasures - for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours too. But if we share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later. Romans 8:16-18 Our God is truly an awesome God, for we are not worthy of the least of all His mercies.
Kommentarer