"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: chosen (Page 2 of 2)

Growth Spurts. Romans 8:29

 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters”

We have always been His…

From our inception—long before our conception, we were chosen in Christ. Regardless if our parents planned it that way or not. God knew. He had a plan for us. A fixed purpose was in place long before our wet, bloodied heads broke free from our mother’s womb. Before one breath was ever taken—one word uttered, we had a purpose. You have a purpose. That’s a Word for someone today.

We were created to hold down a specific spot in the plan God has for His creation. One created, carved out, exclusively for us. A plan far greater and higher and deeper and wider than we’ll ever understand this side of heaven. Yet, it’s nonetheless true, this plan He’s unfolding. And, mind-bogglingly, we entered the world ready for it! Complete, I mean. We came in equipped to fulfill His plan for our lives. We had every gift, experience, word, action, thought, desire, every-thing we’d ever need to fulfill our purpose within us before we even entered this life—in seed form that is. A little kernel was firmly rooted deep within our core—a divine promise just waiting on God’s timing to be called forth. Think of a farmer seeding his field here. It’s a process. First comes the kernels, then the corn stalks. Their embryonic heads—mere sprouts, poking tentatively upwards. Towards what, they know not, yet they must press forward—must grow. Something far greater than themselves propelling them upward—ever upward. So too is our God calling us to come up higher…

Each seed unique. Breaking the surface of the soil at the precise moment it was intended to. As it is with seed-time and harvest—so too with us.

Everything happens in stages. Everything having its assigned time. Even the seemingly insignificant stages. Those moments when it looks like—from our perspective anyway, nothing’s happening—no growth is occurring. Our eyes are locked on the soils surface waiting for something to happen. Wanting some tiny spec of green to surface, assuaging the concerns that we might not have gotten this right. Did I give it enough water? Has it been getting enough sun? Is it in the right soil? If we desire this for ourselves, for our seed to be healthy, to bloom into a vibrant, fecund plant; just imagine how much more the One who sent His only Son to die for us? How much more God? The One who paid the price to buy our seed that it might grow! His plan is for us to flourish, producing fruit in abundance. It’s why His seed was put into us to begin with—that it might produce something others may benefit from. We are, after all, created in the image of the One who gave it all so that “those who will” may have life and have it in abundance.

We are supposed to be like Him—this First Fruit.

He came into the world perfect, sinless, without blemish. One day we too will be as He has always been. Until then however, we’re ever growing into His image and likeness. Remember, seeds don’t become fully matured plants overnight.

He (Jesus) also said, “’This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.  Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come” Mark 4:26-29. Some crack open and show their first roots—white, hair like roots, within 24 to 48 hours after planting. For others, it takes 3 or more days. And for yet others still, it’s not unusual for 7 days to pass before signs will appear indicating that germination has occurred. And, as a farmer purchases the seed and decides when and where he’ll plant it, so too are we chosen by God.

Being called by Him is a three-fold act. And, He both initiates and sustains it. It involves: 1) Foreknowledge. 2) Being predestined, and finally 3) the life-long process of being conformed to the image of Christ. The first two of these taking place outside of our knowledge—our awareness. We were foreknown by God, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” –Jeremiah 1:5. And, in that foreknowledge, we were also predestined. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11. The Apostle Paul says it this way in Romans 8:30. “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” We did not choose God—God chose us. And those He chose He is conforming into the image and likeness of His Son. It’s a lifelong process; yet one that’s certain.

This call on our lives—this unfathomable privilege, this honor beyond compare is effective.

What does that mean? Being chosen by God—called by Him, is the result of God alone bringing about what He demands. As John Piper explains, “It’s a call that creates what it commands. It’s a call like “Lazarus, come forth!” and the dead man lives.”

Just as we did not save ourselves—did not choose to love God, to follow Him; so too we do not decide what type of plant we will become. Nor do we get to decide when, in what season of our lives, any of this might happen. For some, as with the germinating seeds mentioned above, it happens in their youth or teenaged years, For others, in adulthood. And for others still, not until their later years. Being conformed to the image of Christ is not a thing I do to myself—though I have a sure responsibility in the process, it is accomplished by the power of the One who choose me. I am saved by sovereign grace—my rich soil, my shield and covering, my nourishment and protection, my eternal wellspring; from which I grow deep, in seasons and spurts, from inception to resurrection. “…for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God” –1 Peter 1:23.

Friend if this is your first time visiting us let me say welcome and thank you for checking us out! More, know that it was God who brought you here for this message, for that one word that jumped up at you and took root in your belly, yes, that is all God’s doing! If you’ve yet to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior know that there is no better time than right now! He’s calling out to you. He’s chosen you to hear His voice over my pale words. Won’t you say yes to Him? It’s simple really. Just ask Him to come into your heart and change you, awaken you, crack your shell that you may begin to grow in Him. And admit to Him that you’re a sinner in need of  Him. The Savior of the world. The Lord of the harvest…

Unmerited. 2 Samuel 22:37

 You have made a wide path for my feet
    to keep them from slipping.”

Billy Graham explains that grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God. Noah Webster, in the 1828 edition of his now famous Webster’s Dictionary, defines unmerited as follows: “Not merited; not deserved; obtained without service or equivalent…”

David realized that everything in his life was the result of God’s unmerited gifts. Everything. This gift, a child, born from the union of open-handed grace and extravagant—boundless love. Born from God’s own seed…

We witness David’s great love for the Lord displayed early on in his walk.

We hear the impassioned cry of a young man hailing God’s praises with unabashed delight in his declarations found in Psalm 18. We see his fierce love and adoration displayed through his venerating dance before the Lord in 2 Samuel 6:14. Earlier still, in his fervent display of loyalty when, as a boy, he slayed a giant with faith, favor, a rock, and a sling. David saw evidence of the Hand of God in every turning of his life. Life, favor, grace, provision, election, provision—each was synonymous with God. It isn’t hard to imagine that He sang of God’s accolades throughout his entire life. Be those high points or low—

The scriptures are ripe with evidence of this truth…

David’s song of praise found in 2 Samuel 22 is, but a more mature version of this younger man’s heart that had surged forth in Psalm 18. A more complete, richer understanding of the depths of love, the breadth of favor and mercy—the lavishness of the provision, providence, grace and, the unfathomable forgiveness of this God he loved. It’s the pouring out of praise from every pore.

It is the evidence of, proofs of, knowledge—gnosis.

And, we would do well to model its unswerving devotion—this adoration, towards God. To see Him just as clearly in the every turning of our own lives. Realizing with David, that it is only by His design that we have been blessed with life at all! More, if we have been chosen by Him—to partner with, be used by Him, in some small or great way. And, finally, to live with Him eternally when our work here is finished.

Grace…

David knew—is extolling the fact, that God went before him making ways where no way was possible. Created great pools of grace—bays of grace, just to surround David. To protect his feet from falling…

Be encouraged! This same God is still creating those pools today friend. He’s still walking, well ahead of His elect, towards the intersections of destiny and divine timing. All that He might provide for you those things He planned for your life while He was knitting you together in the womb. Each experience a set up—preparation for the moment you would meet the exact person needed to propel you further along in your journey of faith, of refinement—to guide you into your new season, a new level of commitment and service. A shedding of self that you might reflect Him more clearly—trust Him unreservedly.

Grace…

David is speaking to us with conviction. More, with firsthand knowledge.

He’s speaking as one whose been seasoned by life—one who has gained a deeper understanding of the mercy, grace, favor, and, provisions of God. Therefore, now, at the close of his life, possessing a much broader appreciation and recognition of what has been afforded him, conferred on him, David speaks with a reverence and humility that is born from a lifetime of intimacy and trust. From one who has left some skin on the field. One who has lived through fiery trials—has been sifted and wounded and healed and broken and mended and broken again. And now, from this place—after every win and more, after some devastating losses, still stands before us ardently exclaiming, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me.” –2 Samuel

Listen as the Apostle Paul makes plain this same ardent declaration: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” –Ephesians 2:4-10

David’s reign began roughly in 1060 BC. And the Apostle Paul’s roughly in 37 AD. Close to 1100 years separating these voices. Yet, when compared, when laid side-by-side, they speak as one. They share the same fiery declarations of adulation. Each born from knowing the depths of their depravity. The sentence their sins deserved. And each acknowledging with his life—the unmerited grace bestowed upon them.

May the same be said of us. May our cry be: “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” –2 Samuel 22:31-32.

Unmerited Grace. It came in the form of God’s only Son. It is He that David lifts his voice to—spends his life in the service of. God’s Son wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Rejected by men and despised by many. Bruised for our sins—He took upon Himself the penalty for our sins. Stripped, He was beaten to within inches of His life. Pools of Blood shed—in them alone is life and grace and mercy and the forgiveness that David and Paul and Me and countless many sing our praises of thanksgiving to.

Jesus alone makes our paths wide that our feet may not slip. But oh, what it cost Him…

Friend if you are here today for the first time I believe God has directed your steps. If you’ve not yet asked Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior—it’s why He has you here now. Why you stuck around until the end. Please ask Him into your heart today. Tomorrow is promised to no man. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” –Romans 10:9.

“I See You” Isaiah 65:1

 “I let Myself be sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I let Myself be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ To the nation [Israel] which did not call on My Name.”

Though referring to the Israelite’s, some scholars believe this passage was directed—intended, foretold the engrafting of the gentile believers into a relationship with God. Certainly, the Apostle Paul alludes to this in Romans 9:25 when referring to God in the writings of Prophet Hosea. ““As He says also in Hosea, “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE, AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’” To say nothing of the fact that Paul spent his life bringing the message that he as a Jew received—to the gentile world.

But rather than focus on Paul’s teachings or a scholar’s interpretation, though both very valuable and certainly insightful in pointing us towards the Truth, let us instead listen to Jesus…

He sums up what we find in the writings of the Prophet Hosea concerning gentile believers and within the many teachings of Paul’s concerning the inclusion of the gentiles within His Words—within one definitive declaration, one all-inclusive statement He made to His disciples—about themselves, about us, about all believers, Jew and Gentile alike, listen: “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you” (John 15:16).

And there you have it from the God that created you and wants you all for Himself. This from the God who made room for you at His Cross. Who said, “I love you—regardless, of race or color, contrary to your ethnic background or the denomination you’re affiliated with, I don’t care if you’re a Jew or a gentile—you are mine. You are why I stepped down across time and eternity and donned a suit of flesh and blood.  I loved you—love you, enough to come that you might have my life in exchange for yours. It’s why I died for you.”

It is this God—Jesus, that I want us to see today. See as clearly as you’re able—see with your heart.

This God who stood over the great void and called all things into being leaving man no wiggle room to say, I didn’t know about you—wasn’t sure about your creating this world—creating me, “For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense” (Romans 1:20).

Whether you believe in Jesus or not, that doesn’t change the reality of who He is or what He has created. He is evidenced literally everywhere you look, nor the fact, again, believe it or not, that He’ll one day return to judge this world. A tough pill to swallow for some I’m sure, yet the Truth remains Truth even if we choose not to believe it. Understand however, that the heart of God is that not one person perishes but that everyone believes in Jesus and receive eternal life. In His great patients with us, and in His  love for us, He gives us time to say yes to Him but He will not force Himself on anyone who doesn’t want Him. “The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

When Jesus went to the Cross He went to willingly pay the debt owed God for the sins of the whole world. So, if you are reading this now, that means your sins too. God saw you then as He stood over the void at the time of creation and He sees you still. You were counted among those Jesus chose to die for. However, God in His omniscience, knew not everyone would be won to Him—would come to Him, in the same way. After all, we’re each a unique creation. Each of us has been given—is endowed with, unique gifts, talents, personalities, and character traits. And it is with these unique gifts that we’re equip with that help us to reach those others may  never be able to reach. It is our unique experiences that enable us to reach those God will put us near, those He is calling to Himself.

They are the fruit we are called to bear…

Yet this essential point remains consistent for all; we were each made in His image—His likeness, and we were created to worship Him (Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 4:11; Isaiah 43:21). God has surrounded mankind with an inexhaustible display of Himself—conformation of His handiwork, His creations, that we might see Him in all things—at all times. Look up to the sky—there you’ll find evidence of God’s creation, look down to the ground, again, evidence. Look at your child, wife, husband, boyfriend, or girlfriend—each evidence! There is not one thing that was not created by God. From the atom to Adam, from a blade of grass , a ray of light, to Orion’s belt.

Everything was brought into existence by God. Including us…

You—me, Jew, Gentile, all of us, who did not seek after Him, this loving God, He made, makes—Himself known to us daily in countless ways. In sunlight and moonbeams, in smiles and tears and music and leaves rustling on the trees. Through that feeling in your gut that tells you that you were made for so much more—you were, and you are. That Beloved, is evidence of the One you did not—are not looking, seeking after—who was, is, seeking after you.  It’s a sure confirmation that whether you see Him yet or not—He sees you, and He loves you with an eternal, inescapable, all-consuming love.

Listen to how the Apostle Paul speaks about this while addressing believers in Colossae, “For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

We started together with God speaking to those of us who weren’t looking for Him through a Scripture found in the Old Testament, what better place to end our time together than back with God, back in the Old Testament as well. Listen Beloved, and take heart, to what God is saying to those who were also once far away from Him: “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

He sees you Beloved, you matter to Him…

While it is still today, if you don’t yet know Jesus, won’t you welcome Him in to your heart? He’s waiting just for you…

 

 

 

 

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