CHOSEN BY GRACE

Bible in one year liuke 7-9
Memorise: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Eph 2:8)
Read: Ephesians 2:8-9

In John 15:16, Jesus says you did not choose Him but He chose you. In other words, He had chosen you ever before you saw the need to choose Him. Also, it is His choice of you that counts the most because if you choose Him but He rejects you, that choice will have no positive end. Talking of the chosen, whenever I attempt to study a Bible character like Abraham, I am amazed. Before Genesis 12 which talks of how God called Abraham, there was nothing unique that was recorded about him. He was the son of a particular man and lived among idol worshippers. There was nothing to indicate whether he was good or bad, yet God chose him. Our God is a God of choice. Psalm 115:3 says, "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased".
God is also a God of mercy. He chooses to be merciful to whom He will (Romans 9:15-16). I am a product of His mercy. He chose us by grace. This year, may the Lord choose to be merciful to you.

In Exodus 3:1-4, the Consuming Fire came on a bush and it burned without a single leaf being consumed. If you consider this bush, there was nothing special about it. It did not have the best of locations as it was at the backside of the desert. It was not so green and beautiful enough to attract God to it. It was chosen out of God's divine will. Ephesians 2:8-9 says our salvation is entirely by grace, not works. This is how God chooses the most unlikely people for Heavenly assignments. Imagine God choosing a persecutor like Saul as a divine vessel (Acts 9:10-18). If not for grace, many of us would never have been called to salvation, much more to become servants of the Most High God. In Jeremiah 1:4-5, God told this great prophet that he was chosen even before he developed as a foetus in his mother's womb. Before His birth, he had been ordained. God has blessed many with beautiful talents and abilities and when they engage such talents, you would be amazed. As the Potter, He is free to do what He likes with His clay (Rom 9:20-21). He may decide to give someone a beautiful voice while He gives efficient hands that can play the guitar or organ to somebody else. What is most important is yielding totally to the Lord and allowing Him to have His way in your life. Has the Lord endowed you with some talents or unique abilities? Are you effectively and effectually employing them in serving God? Always remember that you were chosen not because you were special but by grace. You are a product of divine choice so glorify God in all you do.

Action point
Father, give me the grace to justify your calling and endowments upon my life.