Today's Worship: God's Election.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 2:5,

 

"Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"

 

As James speaks of the unseemliness of those who would give preferential treatment to the rich within the church, he points out that it is God himself who has chosen those who are "poor in the eyes of the world." To discriminate in this way "with evil thoughts" reveals an inclination to exploit the rich for what they might bring to the table at the expense of the poor within the body of Christ. No wonder James calls them "judges with evil thoughts", James 2:4.

 

How can anyone who would call himself a child of God treat with contempt those who God himself has chosen? Clearly, if God has chosen someone, that one should be honored, despite their wealth, their position in life, their stature in the community, their influence... you get the picture. If they are good enough for God, they should be good enough for me!

 

So, who is it God has chosen? On what basis did God choose them? When it comes to forgiveness of sins, the promise of eternal life, entry into God's family with a place at his table, becoming a co-heir with Christ, clearly it is God's choice upon whom he bestows it all. Is it the wealthy? Is it the popular and influential? Is it the "beautiful people"? Only those who have measured accomplishments in some professional pursuit? Is it the powerful?

 

Paul quotes God saying, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." Romans 9:15. Clearly it is God's choice, his election. In that passage Paul makes this observation, "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.  Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works." God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith.

 

Here is something anyone is free to choose. All have opportunity to join God's family, no one will be able to claim he was unfairly excluded from opportunity to join God's family. Paul tells us in the following chapter of Romans, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." God invites all through the gospel as he stands with open arms, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." Romans 10:17,21.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

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Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com