25 October 2007 Devotion for Today “
Today after about a month of travel, busy morning appointments, intensive course assignments and erratic internet service I begin again fresh and new, this time with the book of Ephesians for my devotional thoughts for the next month. Today I would like to reflect upon the word “chose” or chosen in Ephesians 1:4. Here is its context:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV).
Humanly speaking, the word chosen has never held much appeal for me, possibly because of bad memories from my junior high school years. Those were the days of the embarrassing physical education classes, the tortuous two-mile runs, and then the hopeless games of touch-football where each team chose-up sides. The PE teacher did it this way because it was easier for him, but it was tough on participants who were chosen by team captains. It was a game of popularity, pure and simple. The ones who showed the most physical prowess usually were selected first. Invariably those who did not perform as well in the physical department were grudgingly relegated to the ones last-chosen. Normally the young men in that category were the ones who capitalized more on mind than body. It was in this humiliating experience where I often found myself, and consequently, played less-well than I might have had I been chosen earlier. If I had a choice myself, I would have refused to submit myself to such a dehumanizing process. I suppose I could have, and taken a “0” for non-participation. This was back in the early 1970s and the whole concept of self-esteem had yet to darken the door of American educational curriculum. While I tried not to let it show, my heart hurt and wished I had not been chosen at all rather than to be grudgingly selected by a captain who really didn’t want me on his team but had no choice because everyone had to be chosen by the team captains. Therefore, there was very little expected of me, and most of the time I was content to sit on the sidelines and watch the game or daydream.
It is impossible however, to impose this human idea of choice, or election, onto the concept of God’s choosing us before the foundation of the world. God neither grudgingly accepts us, nor does He force us to play if we do not wish to. He will not drag us into the Kingdom kicking and screaming, but by His election, extends to us a choice instead. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, but only for the day in which an appointment will be made for us to make the choice to accept or to reject His provision of Salvation- the person of His Son Jesus Christ. God does not grudgingly choose us before a whole host of other possible candidates nor does He create an embarrassing spectacle this side of Judgment about who is to be chosen and who will not be. And though this doctrine of election is a great mystery, irreconcilable to the free-agency of man- the idea that God created us as independent, sovereign beings in His own image logically demonstrates that free-agency must be somehow involved. God’s first created human creatures, Adam and Eve, were chosen or elected by God to have eternal fellowship with Him in the Garden, and to experience paradise on earth. But their will determined that they should not enjoy it because they chose to transgress upon God’s law and conditions of His fellowship by eating of the forbidden fruit. They were elected for the opportunity, but they chose to reject it- a condition that is inherent within all of us since the day of our birth.
I realize that such a weighty subject is difficult to digest so early in the morning, but it does give pause for reflection. I used to believe so ardently, strongly and firmly in election, but isn’t it strange how age causes us to lose our grip on things? However, if you prefer to believe in God’s total election, or in the total free-agency of man, or if you fall somewhere in between, know that the entire process is wrapped up in God’s unconditional love for you. As we wade through the depths of theology we can sometimes forget this. Focus on His love for you and it will overshadow whatever theological system you have in trying to comprehend what He desires to do for you.
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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