July 20, 2021 -Reflection on “We Are Chosen!”

         Do you remember first being chosen to be on a team? My memories of being chosen as an elementary student happened on the playground, playing Red Rover, Red Rover! When I heard the other row of students called out, “Let Emily come over!” The feeling of being chosen is sweet.

So many years passed, and sometimes I am chosen, sometimes not. Then I found these verses in Ephesians 1! Reading these verses reminds me again what it like to be chosen. When we are married, we are chosen, when we are hired for a job, we are chosen because of our strengths and abilities. We choose our friends, usually because of the beliefs we have in common.

Why are we blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places? What is a spiritual blessing? How much does it cost? Does it have color, and how would we use it? Where are the instructions? Do these spiritual blessings have an expiration date? Does it have anything to do with the Holy Spirit who guides and teaches us the way of Christ? These spiritual blessings begin with Love that comes from the God who created all that we see about us.

         Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:3-4.

Can you even imagine that God himself chose us in Him before the foundation of the worldmeans? The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2.

That is when God thought of you and me and chose us before we were born. Not for what we will do or what we choose to do. I often think of Peter, the brash Disciple of Jesus, who never knew when to listen and wait on the Lord. The Disciple who denied Jesus three times when Jesus would die on the cross. Then I read I Peter 1:3, writes According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! Forgiveness is such a significant part of love. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

This forgiveness in Christ is told in Romans 8:37-39.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

       In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6.

From the beginning, God had a plan for us. He wanted us as Sons through Jesus Christ. God wants us for ‘keeps’ and this is why He chose us. We don’t see God, we don’t see the Holy Spirit, but Jesus came to the earth. “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:7.

Jesus came to earth with a burst of Angel voices – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Luke 2:14.

He left His home with His Father God to do His bidding to die on the cross for us so that we have redemption through His blood and forgiven because of His Grace.

God chose us to be His Children and said when we choose to follow the way of Jesus, we are choosing Him in return. What is it when we turn our back on a friend? It is called rejection. This rejection is for a time on earth. When we turn our backs on Jesus, it signifies where we will spend time for eternity. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1.

         The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:8-9.

         Who is Jesus? He is from the beginning. The following scripture describes how closely God the Father and His One and Only Son work together.

         For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

        And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.  For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:16- 20.

How can we be sure we will taste of His goodness forever? How can we trust Jesus? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 3:6.

         It is through believing and trusting God, we can be sure of where our eternity will be spent. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6. 

         We often anticipate the celebration of our birthday, or a coming event. The joy leaves us when the event ends. There is one thing that we can anticipate, and the excitement never leaves us. In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14. This promise of His Inheritance is forever!

         Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11.