Notes of Faith August 1, 2024

Chosen for His Reasons

Just as [God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Ephesians 1:4

When we make choices in life, whether large or small, we have our reasons. And we are not always obliged to share those reasons with others. The same is true with God. He makes choices for reasons often known only to Himself

(Deuteronomy 29:29).

Israel began with God’s choice of one man—Abram of Ur—for reasons unknown to us. And because of His love for Abraham, He chose his descendants (Deuteronomy 4:37). But God made it clear that His choice of them was based on His love alone (Deuteronomy 7:7), which resulted in blessedness for the chosen (Psalm 65:4). The apostle Paul continues this theme in Ephesians 1:3-4 where he tells Christians they have been chosen “in love” before the world was created. The focus with our choosing, as it was with Israel, is the kind of people we are to be—how to reflect God’s loving choice in the world: “holy and without blame.”

If you are in Christ today, it is because you were chosen in Him. Give humble praise to God for His choice.

We are not chosen because we are good; we are chosen that we may be good.

Benjamin B. Warfield

2 Thess 2:13-15

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chosen by God for relationship with God…what greater blessing could there be?

John 17:3

3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Pastor Dale