Tag:

Chosen

The Christian Life

by TerryLema

Just a final thought out of Colossians. There is a paragraph in Chapter 3 that talks about the Christian Life and what it should look like. You’ll find it in verses 12-17. If you get a chance read it today.

As I started to read that paragraph, I got stuck on how we are described in the beginning of verse 12. We are “God’s chosen ones, holy and loved.” [HCSB]

We are God’s chosen. Not because we are something special, but solely by the grace of God. We responded to an invitation to come to Him because we were weary and weak and worn and bankrupt.

We are holy. Not by our own efforts but because “He [Christ Jesus] has reconciled [us] by His physical body through His death, to present [us] holy, faultless, and blameless before Him.” [Colossians 1:22 HCSB]

We are loved. Not because we are lovable, but because He is love and has showered His mercy, grace, and love upon us. In fact, He loved us when we were His enemies, when we were rebellious, when we were shaking our fists at Him and shouting that we would not have Him rule over us. Still, He loved us.

Now we have a choice – to live like we are chosen, holy and loved.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Chosen

by TerryLema

Chosen is a word that has always made me wonder. The first time it made me wonder is probably the first time I read 1Peter 2:9. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” [HCSB]

I am a product of a dysfunctional family. I was raised in a traditional religion which often reminded me of my own lack of worth. Then Peter tells me that I am now part of a “chosen race,” and everything changed. Not only that, I am also part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people of God.

That verse has always made my soul sing, still, it has always been that word “chosen” that intrigues me.  I looked it up and the word is “eklektos.” It means select, chosen out, by implication favorite. It can mean “chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to God.”

Then I noticed that “chosen” must be a favorite word of Peter because he uses it three more times in his letter.  He uses it in Chapter 1:1, and in Chapter 2:4 and 2:6. Maybe the thought of being “chosen” by God intrigued Peter as much as it does me.

I must admit I do not understand the working of God’s mind in the how of His choosing. I do not comprehend the great theological truths behind the word or how my being part of God’s chosen is even possible.

I do know that the word fascinates and captivates my heart, and I am forever thankful for being included in that one word “chosen.”

Today: Thank you Father for including me as part of Your family.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

He Doesn’t Need Me!

by TerryLema

I was studying the doctrine of the “Trinity” a few days ago. The doctrine of the Trinity is that God is one God, eternally existent in three persons. All kinds of big theological words bombarded my brain, tritheism, unipersonalism, trinitarianism, etc. To say I was intellectually challenged would be an understatement.

I am not a Bible scholar. I have plenty of Bible books written by Bible scholars, some of which I understand and some of which I do not. I am okay with that. There are many things with and about God that I do not understand with my mind, but I accept willingly and gratefully by faith.

One of the comments as I studied, however, caught my attention. The commentary described God as eternally self-existent (no beginning, no end, and nothing necessary to complete Him) in three persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Then the writer made this comment that because the Father, Son, and Spirit glorify and love one another, God is “infinitely, profoundly happy in Himself.”

It was the implication of that thought that took my breath away. The writer then asked the question … so why would God create us?  He concluded there is only one reason, He created us not to get joy (remember He is infinitely, profoundly happy in Himself) but to give joy – to His creation.

I have read about the Trinity before. I had to study it in college, but until today I never realized the personal implications. God created us, not because He needed us, but because He wanted to share His joy and His love with us.

God wants me? God wants me! God wants you! He wants us not because of what we do, not because He needs us to do anything … He wants us because He wants to share His love, His joy, His glory with us. What an unexplainable truth!

“…from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [2 Thessalonians 2:13b-14 HCSB]

O Precious LORD, you once again captured my heart with Your Amazing Love. Amen.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Who You Are

by TerryLema

Let us not forget who we are. That is not one of the “let us” exhortations found in the New Testament. It is one of mine. Well, it actually may be one of Peter’s, he just didn’t phrase it quite like that. He said: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” [1 Peter 2:9-10]

When things get difficult around us, when the world is shouting at us that we are “non-essential” or that we need to shut our doors (and our mouths), we need to remember who we are.

Peter’s definition uses broad strokes, and yet each one of those holds a special meaning for believers. We are (1) chosen, (2) royal, (3) holy, (4) God’s own. (v9)

And, while we were not, we are now; while we had not, we have now. (v10)

We are God’s chosen people. Does it not amaze you that God wants us? He chose us.

We are God’s royal priesthood. We are people who serve the King of all Kings, and we share in His royalty.

We are God’s holy nation. He set us apart (unto holiness) and we strive to work out that holiness in our daily lives.

We are God’s children. We belong to Him. No one else can lay claim to us. His ownership exceeds and transcends all others.

And while we once were nothing, now we are the people of God.

And while once we did not have mercy, now we are recipients of mercy.

To top it all – let us not forget that no matter the “darkness” that is all around us now, we have been called out of that and into “His marvelous light.” We do not abide in the world’s darkness, we dwell now and forever in the Eternal Light of our LORD and Savior, Christ Jesus.

So … let us not forget who we are. His!

0 comment
FacebookEmail