LEARNING DAILY

 

Ephesians 1:4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 Colossians 3:12a, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,

 1 Peter 2:9, You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 When I consider who God says we are I first think of being chosen by Him. You are chosen! To be chosen means that God loves each of us and chose us to be holy and without sin. Ephesians 1:4 tells us He did this “before the foundation of the world”. He chose us to be part of His family through the acceptance of His Son Jesus. Because time is no barrier to God, He knew who would say yes to the salvation Jesus Christ offers through the cross of Calvary. Since we are chosen, we are chosen for specific purposes; as God’s children we are to share the Good News of the gospel and use the gifts and talents He has given us to bring honor and glory to God in all we do.

 Do you remember the time you and your group of friends were getting ready to play a particular team sport? Do you remember two captains being selected and each one picking players to be on their team? That may or may not bring good memories for you. Players were chosen according to their abilities and how they would fit into the team being chosen. Every person who wanted to participate would be selected. Those who did not want to play did something else. That is sort of like walking with God; all who want to participate are chosen to do their part within the body of Christ as they walk a narrow way. Those who do not want to participate in the body of Christ, well, they continue to walk on a broad way that leads to destruction.

 Being chosen comes with some important responsibilities. We are to be obedient to Him. We are to be holy or “set apart”. Believers are to be “set apart” not because of their own good deeds but because of the work of God within us. We are to live our lives in a way that is “without blame”, on a narrow way to His kingdom. We are to have a compassionate heart, being concerned for others because of the love of God in us rather than our lives being self-centered and selfish. We treat others with kindness. We walk in humility because of what the Lord Jesus has done for us and in us, recognizing that He is utmost in our lives and left alone we are nothing. We are to be gentle or meek with meek meaning we control our actions and tongue rather than using them to abuse or take advantage of others.

 In contrast to those who reject Jesus Christ, Peter describes those who accept Him as their Savior and Lord, the chosen ones.  God called the people of Israel His chosen people. The true Church today is also chosen; the Church has not replaced the Jewish people. The true Church, those people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior has been called to be “set apart” from other people. As a “royal priesthood”, we have direct access to the Father; we have no need for anyone to mediate for us like the priests did during the Bible. The importance of this is that we are to declare His praises, His greatness. This is not some duty we do. We do so because He is worthy! He has called us out of darkness, the darkness of sin and a meaningless life. We are no longer walking on a broad way destined for an eternity apart from Him. No! He has called us into His marvelous light, to be His people and to walk a narrow way into an eternity with Him in His kingdom.

 That ought to just make you want to shout praises and thanksgiving to the King of kings and Lord of lords!