It’s safe to say we all hate the feeling of rejection, whether sporting or otherwise.
Everyone desires to feel chosen. We want to be wanted.
The Bible declares that God chose you.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (Eph 1:4).
Long before you realised, God had you in mind. He designed you, in love, for his purpose, on purpose.
He loves everyone in this world so much that he paid the price of redemption for us all.
In The Message version, the above verse reads: “Long before he laid down Earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love”.
I like how the phrase “holy and without fault” is translated “whole and holy” here.
Reverend James H Aughey said “Holiness is not the way to Christ, but Christ is the way to holiness”.
You are made holy only via God’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf.
This gift of freedom - from guilt, condemnation and striving for acceptance - provides a significant sense of wholeness, in the form of assurance that your past is no longer an obstacle to God, and that he will also faithfully complete the good work he has begun in you.
In the Bible, the word ‘holy’ means ‘to be separate’ or ‘set apart’.
A holy life, in practice, is one in which you allow Jesus’ character and influence to consistently rub off on you, as you journey with God toward complete wholeness.
Why? God is lovingly and purposefully transforming you for an eternal future while, at the same time, transforming your present world, through you.
~ Contributed by Pastor Lynette Kay of Ignite Life Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
10°C