CHOSEN AND THANKFUL

By Jay Pearson

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9) 

The concept of being chosen brings back a memory of choosing sides for some sort of competition. At school the teacher would elect two captains and one would choose a team member and then the other would choose for their team. The popular ones would be chosen first and then the quiet, shy, and/or strange individuals would be chosen last. I was usually right before the strange were picked. If you weren’t picked first, it didn’t make for a good day. Now imagine that without jumping up and saying "Me! Me! Me!", you were picked first. What about before you even arrived at school? What about before you were even born? WOW!

Ephesians 1:4 
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Picked before you were even born by the Creator of everything; by the God of the universe.  Wow that would give you a boost for your day. Is it my goodness? Or maybe my intellectual prowess? It’s got to be my good looks. Let’s read the characteristics of the ones that God picks.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

Some have said that God knows we were going to believe and that’s why he picked us. That’s ridiculous. We were the same as the children of disobedience. Furthermore, faith is not of ourselves.

Ephesians 2:2-3, 8-9
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

God knows me better than I know myself and he still picked me and works in me faithfully to will and to do his good pleasure.

Psalms 103:14 
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 

Philippians 2:13 
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

God never gives up on you and me.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 

He has sealed us with his promise.

Ephesians 1:13-14 
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

Knowing all these truths and promises, our hearts can only be flooded with thankfulness. May we exercise our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord always.

Psalms 100:1-5 
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

May we start each day by always seeking the Lord with thanksgiving all the days of our journey here and now.

Psalms 100:4-5
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. 

AMEN!

 

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Presented April 12, 2025 in French Settlement, Louisiana