Do you enjoy the freedom to choose which we enjoy in America? We chose
our mate, we choose where we want to live, we choose which political
party we want to affiliate with, we choose which church we want to attend,
we choose which foods we want to eat, we choose the clothes we wear …
and on and on we go! Aren’t you glad you have the freedom to choose?
When you make a choice … what goes into your decision? We usually chose
something we like, something we enjoy, something we favor, or someone
we love … right? I wonder when God makes a choice … what goes into His
decision?
Eph 1:4
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,
I know we just finished preaching through Ephesians, but there are
some things in chapter one which bear a closer look. We need to know
for sure that God loves us so much that we are His first choice when
it comes to choosing! God has the ability to make any choice He wants!
And He chose you!
The verse said that His choice was made before the foundation of the
world. That means that His choice is not based upon your abilities or
your works! To help us understand His choosing, let’s look again at Genesis.
Gen 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
There had to a reason for God to create a heaven and earth which He
did not need for His own existence. Although we may not fully understand
God … I believe He is a Person of logic and reason … there was a reason
for Creation beyond the exercise of creating something beautiful! Just
think … He limited Himself by not showing Himself here, as He is in eternity.
He limited Himself by making something physical when He had all things
in eternity. And when Adam sinned, God limited His justice by giving
mercy… so we could exist. There was a reason for God to create the heavens
and the earth! It was because He had made a choice to express His love
and He had you in mind. This was all made for you!
Gen 1:26
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according
to Our likeness;
When God created people with whom He would have a loving relationship,
He created them in His own image and in His own likeness! Of all the
animals of creation, none of them were said to have been made in the
likeness of God. But you and I reflect His likeness because you are chosen
by Him!
Being in the likeness of God may refer to the fact that we stand on
two legs, but I think it is much, much more than that. When God said,
“Let Us make man …” we understand from the New Testament that He is referring
to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three Persons of the
God-head. The Trinity. We were created to be able to commune with God!
Mankind was also created as a trinity in that we are described by Scripture
as having a spirit, a soul, and a body. We were created with a spirit
so God could dwell in our spirit and bring our soul and body into unity
with our spirit! Without God we are dysfunctional!
And in our relationships with each other … those relationships are
not complete until there is a trinity … God, myself, and you! God’s design
of Himself is replicated in us personally … and in us as a society. Relationships
without God as the center tend to be “guarded” instead of open … and
even the closest people still have a distance between them with God drawing
them into Him as He bridges that last gap of trust and communion.
The evidence of God’s choice of us is in the Garden of Eden when the
Scripture reveals that God came to see Adam and Eve on a regular basis.
Gen 3:8
The LORD God (came) walking in the garden in the cool of the day …
God revealed His choice of loving you when He created Adam and Even.
He enjoyed talking with Adam and Eve! His plan was for them to populate
the whole earth … yet He knew they would sin. But in all of this He had
chosen Adam and Eve because of His love for them. He loved their children.
He loved you and me. He loved us so much that He chose us from the foundation
… the creation … of the earth.
Would you turn to someone and say “God chose me.” Now tell someone,
“God chose you!” We are the chosen of God!
Please understand, God had a purpose in His choosing!
Eph 1:4
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,
While God’s choosing you is special and unique … there is no one who
can take your place in God’s eyes … yet God chose everyone who is born
on this earth … but not everyone has responded to His choosing! God has
a design for our lives … a purpose! God’s choice of all mankind was that
we should be holy and without blame before Him. Read Peter’s description
of us:
1 Peter 2:9
9 But 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;
We have been chosen to become a part of a royal family of priest! In
the Book of Revelation we are called “kings and priest.” We have been
promoted into royalty! Isn’t that grand! Those who respond to God’s choosing
have become His holy nation … God’s own special people! We are now able
to proclaim praises to His Name because He has chosen us, called us out
of darkness into His marvelous light!
God didn’t choose you in order to scold you, belittle you, push you
around, or to demand the impossible from you. Just as you have made choices
in order to express your personality and your taste … God has chosen
you in order to express Himself with His enablement … empowerment … graciousness
… and love! You are somebody!
There are some people who are scarred by circumstances which make them
feel rejected, unloved, and unlovable … but God wants you to know that
He chose you in order to express His love to you!
Col 1:13
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into
the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Satan no longer has authority over your life! Jesus died on the cross
so your sins would be forgiven and that your scars would be healed! You
have a new king and you live in a new kingdom! And your King is in love
with you! He will not reject you! Old things have passed away and behold
all things are new! When Satan reminds you of your past … remind Him
that you are now royalty and that you are a citizen of a new kingdom
where he has no authority!
Rom 8:1-2
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ
Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free
from the law of sin and death.
The chosen ones are no under condemnation from God! We not only have
a new king and a new kingdom but we are under a new law … the law of
the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus! You were chosen to live … to be alive
in Christ … to be free from condemnation and the scars of the past. RECEIVE
IT! You are chosen by God to be holy and without blame in His love!
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