Chosen by God?

The usual question when it comes to being chosen by God is why would He choose some and not others? From experience and from Scripture, I get the idea that when God calls someone to faith in Him, that call is irresistible, yet Jesus says many are called but few are chosen. Israel was called as a nation, yet they failed in that calling and the Lord turned to the Gentiles. Yet if humans can say no to God, then how can God be sovereign? Who are we to control our own destinies? I cannot resolve this puzzle, yet today this passage added a dimension not thought of before; Jesus was also chosen. . . .  

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4–10)

From this passage, those ‘chosen’ are ‘in Christ’ because Christ is chosen, just as we who are in Christ are righteous and justified. It is not our own righteousness but His. That is, like the pages in a book, I am in Christ. Or like the hand in a glove, He is in me. That union with Christ by faith and by the grace of God grants me the status of being chosen. It is not about God standing in the heavens and picking this person and not that person but a description of those who are in Christ.

In other words, being the elect or chosen is not a description of how I got there but a description of where I am. This explains the phrase ‘many are called but few are chosen’ in that God calls people to Himself yet only a few who are invited are actually in that kingdom of Christ and called His family.

This idea has holes in it too. However, I’m content with it. The NT uses the term “mystery” for several things including the gospel, what has happened with Israel, the fact that some will not ‘sleep’ but be changed, the will of God, how marriage depicts Christ and His church, that Christ is in His people, and several more truths about God’s doings. My nature is to love AND solve puzzles, yet faith tells me to simply believe what God says even if I cannot unravel it. One of those puzzles is that some believe and some do not.

PRAY: Lord, there are people who decide that all will eventually believe, or that no one goes to heaven against their will, or that only those who say yes to the calling will get in. . . all trying to simplify what You say is a mystery. All I know for sure is that God chose You and that You chose me. I cannot understand that choice except that “You chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; what is weak in the world to shame the strong; what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in Your presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29, personalized) This humbles me, but I am content to be humbled and that You are glorified.

My sheep hear My voice…

The song and the Lord say, “My sheep hear my voice” and declare that God’s people do not know or follow the voice of strangers. Reflecting on this, my experience makes a distinction between God’s sheep who listen only to Jesus, and the old nature who definitely knows and follows the voice of the world and even the devil. Each time I do a selfish or sinful thing, it is because I am not listening to the Lord, but to those desires of the flesh… which died with Christ and is separated from communion with God, but nevertheless remains with ears to hear lots of junk.

Today’s reading begins with: “When we have heard the call to surrender and have confessed that the Lord is our God and that we will walk in His ways and keep His commandments, He declares us to be His peculiar people and promises to make us holy.”

I believe this is backwards because “I” cannot hear the call of God until God has given me faith to believe and declared me His child. Only then do I become one of His sheep and am able to hear His voice and yield to His desires.

The reading says, "From that moment He takes full possession of us. What can He do but take possession of the soul that surrenders itself to Him? And of course He sanctifies that which is His own. Everything given to God becomes, by that very act, holy and set apart for His use alone.”
Again, this is backwards. I did not and would not be able to give myself to God until He first called me and made me His child.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)

It has to be in this order for the Bible declares over and over that flesh cannot and will not choose or even seek God.

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:10–20)

Two ways are viewed: the power of God to change sinners and the free will of man to choose or reject God. The problem, with the second view is that it exalts “I” and the human will instead of Jesus. It also dismisses biblical teaching that everyone will reject God unless God works in our hearts to change the way we think. He is the Savior. Without Him, no one would believe. In our ‘free will’ we pick our own way, not God’s way. (Isaiah 53:6)

The devotional speaks of the danger of an “I” religion without seeming to realize that ‘free will’ is at the root of it. When Jesus said, “Not my will but thine be done” there was no sin in His will, yet He yielded it to the Father. To be like Jesus, I’m to do the same, but without the mind of Christ, I would never say that because, as the Bible says, I would never seek God.

Why cling to the idea of free will? Such is the power of sin. It leads the human heart to want to be in control, the very opposite of what faith in God entails. He exists and is sovereign. I’m basically unable to do anything apart from His mercy and grace.

PRAY: Lord, it is right to exalt You and to give You glory for anything right that happens in my life. I’m helpless and without spiritual life or fruit without You. I acknowledge You as the Author and Finisher of my faith and of my very life and breath. I need You and Your grace every moment and am grateful that You died for my sin, rose again, and give me Your life, even Your mind and Spirit that I might surrender and live as Your sheep who is able to hear Your voice and do what You say.

Playing on a team . . .

 

Our church has a team in a city-wide slo-pitch league. While scores are kept and players do their best, it is a ‘fun league’ rather than competitive. This week, the other team didn’t show up and registered a forfeit on the website. Our team didn’t see that so everyone was at the ball diamond, enough to add some spectators and make up two teams and play anyway. Most wore the same jerseys so I could not tell them apart. I’m not aware how they decided who played where but this reminded me of school days when team captains took turns and selected players. No one wanted to be the last one picked.

Everyone played, even the girlfriend of one of the regular players who had never picked up a bat before but bravely give it a try. Others were at the opposite extreme with years of experience. Skill wasn’t as important as effort, including delightful banter and some surprising, excellent plays.

This morning’s verse parallels some of that game’s elements with this team effort. First, the players were chosen.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

No one tried to pick me to play ball, but God did choose me to be His child and on His team. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16)

Like these teams, some of us bear more fruit than others, but that is not the point. Because God picked us to ‘play’ on His team, we can do it, not to be in competition but for the joy of doing His will.

Some of the banter illustrates how Christian service works. These teams were led by two of our pastors who were also pitching the ball. At one point, one player at bat was being teased by the pastor who was pitching. Her team leader and another pastor, shouted out, “Hey, listen to him on Sunday mornings, but don’t listen to him out here!” Everyone laughed. On reflection, when serving God, I am to listen to spiritual leaders, yet they are not always with me to guide my actions or take the place of listening to God.

I know this verse is not about a ball game. The devotional writer makes it about the doctrine of election, much debated yet does anyone really understand it? Some make faith in Christ solely the prerogative of God. Others point to human responsibility to jump up to the plate.

As I understand it, God’s will somehow works in my will to motivate me so I will do what He wants me to do, and that includes hitting a homer, bunting the ball, and striking out. He uses all things together to transform me into the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). This is a mystery, but trusting His sovereign power yields far better results than relying on my ability to make the right choices and do the right things.

For today, I’m hearing God speak to me about teamwork and about joy in playing this game a life of serving Him according to rules yet without making it a competition. Some can hit better or run faster, but we are in this together, bound by our delight in God’s redeeming grace. I rejoice at being selected by the Lord to serve Him.

PRAY: Jesus, this is not the best analogy, yet it reminds me that I am on Your team, challenged to do my best to bring glory to You and to present Your wonderful and powerful good news to others. I’m to love my teammates, love those watching, even love those who fail to show up, and never grumble about the task at hand or the performance of others on our team. I’m not a ball player, but I am chosen by Your amazing grace and so thankful to take part in what You are doing in this world.

PONDER: the grace of God as described in Romans 5. Where would I be if God had not selected me to be on His team?