Paul writes to the Gentiles in Rome… who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. Called to be His people. Are you called? Are you holy? What a privilege to not only be holy, but called to be part of God’s family. My brother reminds me occasionally that God has everything already decided. Predestined.
God decided in advance to
adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God
for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He
is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood
of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with
all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan
regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the
plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority
of Christ--everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are
united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose
us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. Ephesians 1:5-11 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
Ladies at the Wailing Wall - Jerusalem
Called to hear God...and to speak to Him.
Are they adopted into God's family?
Some
translations use “predestined” in verses 5 & 11. Predestined—determined in
advance by a divine will or fate. According to Paul…those in Rome…and we can
assume others throughout history…are loved by God and are called to be his
own holy people. Is the future so set that although we think we are having
choices…are we really or is the future predetermined by God? We know God has a
plan for eternity and He knows what is going to happen. Do we know what will
happen? We can guess…or read the prophecies in the Bible. Predestined or not…we
can make choices. If or when we are called, we have the choice to respond. Choose
wisely.
And
you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus
Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called
to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give
you grace and peace. Romans
1:6-7
Prayer
– Lord, as fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make
the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!
When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest
expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! For since the world began, no
ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait
for him! Isaiah 64:2-4
Meditate
on God’s plan.
Verse
of Salvation ~ So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation
and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Timothy 2:10
© 2025 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
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