2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-14 – But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

THEME OF THE DAY: JUST HOW MUCH WE ARE LOVED.  Take a moment, right now, stop reading and ponder just how much we are loved by God.  Okay, moment’s up.  Were we overwhelmed with the sense of “Why me, Lord?” Or did the thoughts of Jeremiah 31:3 come to our minds, “I have loved you with an everlasting love?”  Maybe the unfathomable steadfastness of His love when we sin, get worldly, fail to obey, and are so selfish that we were humbled to the point of grateful thanksgiving in song and prayer?  Yes, we are greatly loved, and it is His love which anchors the soul in life’s storms, brings peace in anxious situations, and rest to our minds when fearful and doubting thoughts seek to control us.

In today’s scripture, we have two manifestations of God’s love that is based solely on who He is, His purposes for us, and based on nothing we have done, will do, or how worthy we are of His love (we are not).

First, the election of His people, set apart for His work of sanctification (holiness in conformity to Jesus).  This truth of sovereign election is throughout scripture and the clearest description of the doctrine is the opening chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – 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 to himself 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 (Ephesians 1:3-6). Don’t doubt, debate, or rebel against God’s sovereignty in salvation.  He chooses His family.  It is not of our free will. We simply are born again and enabled to respond to the Gospel.  Yes, man has free will, but he can and will only choose sin until He is given a new heart.  Remember, regeneration occurs before faith. Rejoice in such love that He would pick us to be in His family of His own will and purposes.

A second manifestation of God’s love is that we may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus. What does this mean? At least two things.  First, we will receive the glory of being like Him.  The Apostle John tells us in his first letter that when we see Jesus, we will be like Jesus and that is most glorious – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3:1-3). But there is more . . . our contentment for now and eternity will be in basking in the glory of our Lord Jesus. Nothing satisfies the human heart but Him and to see how much He loves us and His glorious beauty.  Christ actually prays this for us  – Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24).

So, take another moment, right now, and ponder how much we are loved by God.  And make this a regular practice!  It will fuel our love for Him.

PRAYER: “Father, how can I ever express my thanks to You for such enduring love You have given me?”

QUOTE: “Everything is from God, by God, for God and that includes our creation and salvation.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim