Ephesians 1:3-7 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

THEME OF THE DAY: PROVING OUR ELECTION. What I am about to share is the most encouraging, most energizing, most motivating, and most thrilling truth a Christian will ever understand. Get this truth deep in our thinking and affections, and we will be a force in our world for Jesus Christ. Allow this truth to consume us and every day of the Christian life will be an adventure full of joy, zeal, making every action an opportunity to represent Christ. Yes, even the “routine” things from doing laundry, mowing the grass, going to work, raising kids, and everything else under the sun we must do. Make this truth the compass guiding our lives, and we will know joy unspeakable and live each day with passion for the Lord Jesus. I know I am really building this up. I hope you are “chomping at the bits” over what I am talking about. Before I do, one more “appetizer”. If God shows us this truth of His love, we will never be the same in our attitude toward the Bible, prayer, church, and our relationship with God. Conversely, if we don’t “discover” what I am about to share, we will live a short-changed Christian life too often marked by doubts, fears, dull routine, boring habits, and so far removed from the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10). So, here it is . . . . Christians are God the Father’s gifts of grace to His Son based exclusively on His sovereign choice. If we are Christians, God the Father, out of pure love and nothing we contribute, gave us to His Son, the Lord Jesus before there was time.

In today’s scripture, we read of the glorious truth of sovereign election. Now don’t get nervous. It is a glorious doctrine prevalent throughout the Bible designed to comfort Christians, not put them in the slavish fear of doubt. From eternity past, long before we were born, God chose a select people to be in His forever family in union with His Son. He chose us before the foundation of the world. He predestined us for adoption. He blessed us in the Beloved.

I know people struggle with the doctrine of sovereign election. Hopefully, I may help such people. I want to help you go from fears and doubts to worship and thanksgiving for this most comforting of doctrines. I often hear timid souls tell me, “But I don’t know if I am one of the elect. What if I am not chosen?” Friends, that isn’t the place to start. In fact, don’t go to that place. It is dark and never provides assurance or answers. The place to solve all doubts of one’s election into God’s family is with the questions and answer, “Did you come to Christ? Do you believe in Him as your sole hope for forgiveness and heaven?” If you can say, “Absolutely, He is my all and all. I am casting myself on Him alone to save my soul”, then you have just proven your election. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). If one struggles with assurance of salvation and election, ask the question, “Did I come to Christ?” If so, revisit what Jesus says. By coming to Him, we verify two things. First, God the Father drew and gave us to His Son. The second thing is we are secure because the Son cannot lie and He said, “I will never cast you out.” This is not just good news, but great news, assuring news, empowering news, confidence-building news, and the news which points us to living the Christian life as God intended – full of joy and love for His amazing sovereign grace.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for such love that You would give me to Your Son as a gift from Your love”

QUOTE: “Think often of being a gift from the Father to the Son and watch how joy and fruitfulness in your life blossoms.”