Why are we chosen?

[Chuck®]

The LORD did not set his love upon you,
nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people;
for ye were the fewest of all people: Speak not thou in thine heart,
after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying,
For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land:
but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land
to possess it for thy righteousness;
for thou art a stiffnecked people. Deuteronomy 7:7; 9:4, 6

Here, God says to the people of Israel,
“The blessings you enjoy,
the victories you’ll see
are not because you’re a mighty people,
for you’re small and weak.
Nor is it because you’re righteous in heart,
for you’re stiff-necked and stubborn.
But I must drive the Canaanites from the land
in order that they won’t infect others with their sin,
and I’m going to use you to do it.”

Like Israel, we are called a chosen people.
Why are we chosen?
we are chosen to the praise of the glory of His grace.
That is, we are chosen to showcase God’s grace.
This means that in the ages to come, millions of angels,
living creatures, and all of creation
will look at you and me who have been chosen,
who have been adopted,
who have been elevated to be with Christ in heavenly places,
and they will say, “Look at the people God chose to be joint heir with His Son. They’re just a bunch of ragtag renegades.
Truly His grace is unbelievable
unfathomable, incomparable!”
That’s why Paul said, “Look around you.
There are not many wise,
many strong, many noble among you” (see 1 Corinthians 1:26).
When I was in high school,
I thought the key to an effective ministry
was to get the head honchos, the big guns, the beautiful people.
But that’s not what Jesus did.
He turned the world upside down
with the street people, the outcasts,
the forgotten folks.
In other words, He used people just like us.

~ Chuck ~

 

[angelwind]

The LORD did not set his love upon you,
nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people;
for ye were the fewest of all people: Speak not thou in thine heart,
after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying,
For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land:
but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land
to possess it for thy righteousness;
for thou art a stiffnecked people. Deuteronomy 7:7; 9:4, 6

Here, God says to the people of Israel,
“The blessings you enjoy,
the victories you’ll see
are not because you’re a mighty people,
for you’re small and weak.
Nor is it because you’re righteous in heart,
for you’re stiff-necked and stubborn.
But I must drive the Canaanites from the land
in order that they won’t infect others with their sin,
and I’m going to use you to do it.”

Like Israel, we are called a chosen people.
Why are we chosen?
we are chosen to the praise of the glory of His grace.
That is, we are chosen to showcase God’s grace.
This means that in the ages to come, millions of angels,
living creatures, and all of creation
will look at you and me who have been chosen,
who have been adopted,
who have been elevated to be with Christ in heavenly places,
and they will say, “Look at the people God chose to be joint heir with His Son. They’re just a bunch of ragtag renegades.
Truly His grace is unbelievable
unfathomable, incomparable!”
That’s why Paul said, “Look around you.
There are not many wise,
many strong, many noble among you” (see 1 Corinthians 1:26).
When I was in high school,
I thought the key to an effective ministry
was to get the head honchos, the big guns, the beautiful people.
But that’s not what Jesus did.
He turned the world upside down
with the street people, the outcasts,
the forgotten folks.
In other words, He used people just like us.

~ Chuck ~

And how thankful we all are to be chosen...