Deuteronomy 9:1-5
To our modern ears, the idea of being chosen is more concerning than comforting. The idea that God chooses some to receive the good news of the gospel and not others offends us. It rebels against our idea of fairness. We have many philosophical objections to it.
But God’s sovereign choice is not a philosophical position. God’s choice is a doctrine of comfort. When we know ourselves to be surrounded by fearful opposition and dangerous circumstances, we are deeply comforted by the fact that God has chosen us and will not let us go. God’s tight grip on us is so precious when we feel like we are losing ours.
We dismiss God’s sovereign choice when we don’t know how precarious our situation is. But more than this – we rebel against the sovereign choice of God because we think that we are pretty good. We think that we are pretty okay, and so are the people around us. So, we offended that God would pick us and not them. But as the word says to us today, we understand God’s choice only when we understand that we do not deserve to be chosen.
Even when a child has been disobedient, she clings to her father when she knows that she can be overwhelmed. Her confidence is not in herself, or her ability to hold on to the father. She is confident, because the father holds her, and is stronger than all the monsters out there.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that in your grace, you have chosen me. Humble me with this astonishing truth. Grant me the grace to say a simple thank you. And Lord, teach me to live as though the gospel is precious, and people need to hear it.
No comments:
Post a Comment