FEBRUARY 25, 2015
His Choice
God from the beginning chose you for salvation. —2 Thessalonians 2:13
Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
When our children were
small, I often prayed with them after we tucked them into bed. But before I
prayed, I sometimes would sit on the edge of the bed and talk with them. I
remember telling our daughter Libby, “If I could line up all the 4-year-old
girls in the world, I would walk down the line looking for you. After going
through the entire line, I would choose you to be my daughter.” That always put
a big smile on Libby’s face because she knew she was special.
If that was a
smile-worthy moment for her, think of the grace-filled fact that the
Creator-God of the universe “from the beginning chose you for salvation”
(2 Thess. 2:13). Before time began, He desired to make you His own. This
is why scripture often uses the picture of adoption to communicate the amazing
reality that, through no merit or worthiness of our own, we have been chosen by
Him.
This is stunning news!
We are “beloved by the Lord” (v.13) and enjoy the benefits of being part of His
family. This glorious truth should fill our lives with humility and gratitude.
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved
us . . . establish you in every good word and work” (vv.16-17).
I will be forever
grateful that I am Your child,
Father, and that You love me! Teach me to remember
all the benefits of belonging to You, and may I
serve You faithfully as part of Your family.
It’s God’s choice to
love you and to make you part of His family.
INSIGHT: In
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he assured the believers that they were
loved by God and chosen (1:4 niv). In today’s reading, Paul reiterates this by
saying, “God from the beginning chose you for salvation” (v.13). That God
“chooses” people is taught in scripture (Deut. 7:6-8; Isa. 44:1-2; Rom.
8:28-33; 9:11; Eph. 1:4-6,11; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-2). Although a person
is “chosen” before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4-5; 2 Tim. 1:9),
this becomes evident in life when one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ (2
Thess. 2:13-14).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
