In a few months we will have the privilege of electing a president. We may not like the choices, but yet we still get to choose.
Our choice involves a discriminatory evaluation of the candidates. We will choose one above the other based on their political views, their personal character, their past performance, even on whether we like their clothes or their hair. Out choice is all about the candidates.
And, what about me. I can be fickle. Depending on how my day is going or in which direction the breeze is blowing, I can change my mind. If I'm tired and moody and read bits and bytes on the candidates, it can change or taint my view. My choices are also based upon the person that I am. Some days I'm good, and some days...not so much.
Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Bible Theology describes the concept of "election" in this way:
"Those who are saved, the believers in Jesus Christ, are called "the elect (chosen)". None who is ultimately redeemed can boast that they saved themselves or that they added anything to the salvation that they received through Jesus Christ."
It goes on to contrast human choice with God's choices:
"Since it is true that mere human choices are made according to what the person is, it goes without saying that God's choices are made in a accordance with who God is. God's choices and decisions are fully consistent with his eternal wisdom, goodness, justice, fairness, and love. Nothing that God chooses to do is mean-spirited, vindictive, or wrong. God cannot act any other way than consistently with his eternal divine nature. For this reason, human beings may trust God to do what is right, and our highest good is to choose the will of God for ourselves."
God is Love...His very nature is Loving...His choices are always in line with His character.
"He chose me , not because I am great, but because He is good." (K. Balarie)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
The Greek word for "chosen" here is "eklektos" which not only means elect, or chosen, it means "The Chosen One". I believe that God is equating our being chosen by Him with Jesus Christ (The Chosen One). Who am I to be put in the same category as Jesus himself?? Yet, God calls me His chosen one.
The words "special possession" are together in one Greek word "peripoiesis". We are not just a possession...we are a Special Possession. Jesus is described as the stone the builders cast aside, but the One who is ultimately the Cornerstone of our faith. We are not just any possession, we are God's precious stone.
He chose me not because of something I did, but because of who He is.
This allows me to cast all the striving, earning, fear of disappointing, out the window. He chooses (elects) me because of His great love and NOTHING will change that. Nothing I can do can make Him love me more or less, because His very nature is Love and He cannot deny Himself.
God is immutable (unchanging). He has set His love upon me and this fact is unchangeable.
What a reason to praise Him!!
Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for the good and loving God that you are. I praise you that all your decisions are based upon you Holy character that you cannot deny. How thankful I am that you are not like me. Forgive me for my fickleness and align my choices with your will so that you can use me to bring you glory. Thank you for loving me so much that you chose me...you call me Christ's sister/brother...you have set me apart as your special possession. Help me to grasp this unfathomable love you have for me and to live like the loved one that I am. Thank you for choosing me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Be blessed...
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