Prayer
– Lord Jesus, I feel chosen. I’m not sure when it happened—before I was born…when
I had an insightful spiritual teacher in the sixth grade Sunday School teacher…when
I accepted Christ as my personal Savior when I was in college…or when I
rededicated by life to Christ several years later. At some point in time, You
chose me…and I am eternally grateful. I am willing to serve You forever. Show
me how I can serve You today.
But
even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then
it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News
about Jesus to the Gentiles. Galatians
1:15-16a NLT
A new day...a new life.
You must be born again.
Meditate.
Consider what it means to be chosen.
God chose
Paul for His team. As Paul described to the Galatians, God chose him even
before he was born. The same goes for us—those who have heard God calling us
and have responded. Jesus told Nicodemus that God loves everyone—
For God loved the world so much
that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will
not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge
the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
Do you
believe that because God so loved the world that He chooses everyone to
be part of His family? Those who experienced a spiritual birth have been born
again. As you may recall from Jesus’ further discussion with the Pharisee
Nicodemus…You must be born again. God is a spiritual being so by a
person having a spiritual birth…or rebirth, they become part of God’s family. Just
what does it mean to be part of God’s family?
Dear children, don't let anyone
deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are
righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it
shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning.
But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been
born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is
in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 1 John 3:7-9
Are God’s
children really sin-free or sinless? John tells us that those in God’s
family do not make a practice of sinning. God makes a way of escape. I am
grateful for that teaching and reminder (Thank you, Holy Spirit.)
If you think you are standing
strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different
from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the
temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show
you a way out so that you can endure. 1
Corinthians 10:12-13
God loves
His children so much and provides not only Salvation—but encouragement to them.
Do you believe that God has chosen you to be part of His family?
Verse
of Salvation ~ Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really
don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better
things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not
forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him
by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you
will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that
what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and
indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to
inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:9-12
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character
Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories
No comments:
Post a Comment