chosen Archives – Sonshine's Journal

November 16, 2024November 16, 2024

11.16.24. Chosen by God

Psalm 132 King David was chosen just as you and I …from the foundation of the world. “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” [Eph 1:4] Each of us has been chosen by God for His purposes and yet with that comes many trials as well as blessings.

David did not choose to be a king but God sent Samuel to anoint him to rule over his people. He was most likely satisfied to be a shepherd over the sheep of his father’s. All of his brothers stood before Samuel but God chose none of them. Only when God told Samuel that none of these met his criteria did his father send for him. David had no idea what lay before him. From that time on, he suffered many afflictions as well as blessings. His life was transformed at a time when there was already a king in the land. King Saul hated David and tried to eliminate him over and over but God preserved him.

God has chosen you for His purposes. Your life may be filled with problems or it may be blessed beyond measure. Yet, He has a purpose for you to complete His mission in this time frame. Look back over your life and see where God made His choice and what has transpired since then. Stop and give Him praise for choosing you just as He chose David.

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023

“Called and Chosen”

Romans 1 – Acts 20:1-3 We all love to hear our name being called. So imagine how beautiful it is to know that God called us, each one of us. He loved us from eternity past and called us from eternity past. Paul was called to be an apostle; like him, you were called to belong to Jesus Christ and be saints. Each of us who has believed the report and the news of the gospel message has received our call.

But calling is just one step. God not only called us but also saved us as part of that calling. And he accomplished all of this before eternity began. Jeremiah is an example of one called, and the Lord’s message came to him saying, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I chose you.” From this and Psalm 139:13-16, we know that from eternity past, God formed each of us and put His mark upon us. The psalmist wrote, “You wove me together in my mother’s womb.” Think about this when you hear people talk about abortion as if it is just something simple. Instead, remember, a child is being formed in that womb, created by God, loved by God before time began.

And, like Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit appoints us to the task of going and making disciples of all nations. Meditate on this powerful reminder of who you are in Christ today and every day!

December 3, 2022December 3, 2022

Keep that love fresh!

Ephesians 1-3 Paul wrote to encourage the Ephesians to stand fast. About 25 yrs. later under the inspiration of Christ, John wrote to encourage these precious believers to return to their first love. Paul told them they were saints, set apart for God, faithful in Christ. John said you were faithful and enduring. What had happened? Why did you lose that first initial love and depart from your first love? John’s words from Christ remind us that even though we may be earnestly and steadfastly faithful in our works, if not done with love, it is as if we were a gonging cymbal. [1Cor 13:1]

Paul reminded them that their great gift of God’s forgiveness of sin was given to redeem them from their trespasses and sins. It was done through the blood sacrifice of Christ. Now they were forgiven their trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Just like the Ephesians, we were chosen before the world was founded. He predestined us to be His children because of His will’s pleasure. Peter emphasized this same point: his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness. [2Pet 1:3]

Keep that love fresh!

October 21, 2018

“The Real Christmas…It’s More Than Just Christmas Wrappings”

gift wrapping jude 1 Jude 1:1 “The Real Christmas…It’s More Than Just Christmas Wrappings”

Where did summer go? Wasn’t it just Resurrection Day? But, here we are in October and the stores are brimming with holiday trappings. It won’t be long before we purchase gifts for loved ones and wrap them with care. Just as we choose with the recipient in mind, so God, in eternity past, chose us and then called us not because we were better or more handsome or some other characteristic but purely because of His love. Just as He told the children of Israel of His reason to choose them the same principle applies to us. It isn’t because we are more numerous, smarter or have more in other ways. No God chose them and He chooses us because of His love and His faithfulness to the promise He made.

Unlike the Israelites who were in Egyptian bondage to a cruel despot we were or are in bondage to an even crueler despot, Satan. Just as God planned their redemption so He planned for ours through His Son Jesus Christ who paid our debt on the cross. He redeemed us from clutches of Satan. And then just like a gift, God wraps us up in His love and keeps us until Jesus Christ either calls us home to heaven or He returns to take us as His pure virgin to the Father.

We are wrapped waiting that special Christmas morning when we will be unwrapped and clothed in our new eternal garments.

Think about this as you begin your “Christ”-mas shopping.

September 16, 2016

I Say There; Being a Bit of Snoot Today?

snooty2

Preacher religion is alive and well in the world. We could name names of those men and women who others follow and proclaim they are “the best;” Just like in Corinth they say with their best snooty voice: “I belong to Paul and you don’t. ” Snootiness was alive and well in Corinth and it is today. This is not sin but carnality or immaturity which is evidenced in attitudes and behavior.

Like the Corinthians we are called, chosen, sanctified and saints; therefore we should be humble. Instead we often are snooty acting like unbelievers—-not called, chosen saints of God. The proof is in the pudding; divisions, quarrels and strife as well as elevating men above Christ.

Paul sets out to challenge them to grow up and quit depending on others to feed them because they have the mind of Christ! Paul now asks them and us as well, why are you still acting like little children and like unregenerate people instead of born again saints of God! I want to feed you meat but your infantile behavior leaves me no choice but to continue to provide you only baby food. Paul pinpointed the problem which was snootiness! They were puffed up and forgetting their calling! They were not discerning with their renewed mind of Christ.

This is an ‘ouch’ to us as well. How often do we tilt our noses with an air of snootiness rather than a humility of spirit.

Photo: dreamstime.com

September 6, 2016

“You Are Called! You are Significant”

Some days we feel rather insignificant the chosen one in our walk with Jesus. On days like that we need to take a moment and walk through 1Corinthians 1 to see who we are in God’s eyes.

Paul begins by saying he is “called to be an apostle.” The word call in Greek means invited, thus Paul was invited by Christ to be an apostle. Here’s a question for you to ponder: What has God called to you to be? Try putting your name in that sentence.

“I am called to be…(fill in the blank).

As you ponder that answer it should cause each of us to stop and consider from where we have come and where we are headed. Our calling means we have a sure footing as we trod this world until we reach eternity. It should stop us to consider how significant we are that God has invited us to join his fellowship of believers. Think about the circumstances of your call…Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. [vs 26] But you were called, that is invited to this privilege.

Recently I was asked this question: What would you see God calling you to if you knew without a shadow of doubt that you would not fail? The answer should be this; if I am called then I can be sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in [me] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. [Phi 1:6]

It was by God’s grace that we are given this privilege and we cannot boast for it is all of God’s work and none of ourselves. If we want to boast, boast in this: God called “me” and He is in the work of “perfecting” me in the path he has already foreordained in eternity past.

And that is why you and I are significant!