A Church with a Heart for our Community

March 4th Thursday

Greetings in the name of “the Father” (Matthew 6:9) and the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ – THE Crucified and Risen Saviour…the Son! Another interesting morning after yesterday’s moderate temperatures…but a great morning nonetheless! In all the turmoil of the world, I trust that you are at peace with God. I will be praying for you today, asking Father to display his glory in and through your life.

“Take a good look at my servant. I’m backing him to the hilt. He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life…” Isaiah 42:1 The Message. What great images are created with these few words. As you know the reference is to Jesus, but think about it. Jesus was “chosen” to be a “servant” of God. Chosen, not self-appointed but ‘chosen’ and therein lies the sense of confidence that Jesus displayed as he gracefully moved through life. “Chosen by God” – what a seal of approval, what a validation, and what a humbling affirmation.

The challenging point of this is found in Paul’s words:Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him (Jesus Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…you were marked in him (Jesus Christ) with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…Ephesians 1:3-4, 13b  NIV. Now think about that…you and I were “chosen by God” to be servants…”chosen!”, and that should give us self-confidence and should validate our worth and encourage a sense of humility. Take a moment right now and either go look in a mirror or imagine doing so…and declare to yourself that according to God’s word; “I am ‘chosen by God’ for servanthood, just like Jesus!”

Listen to the words of Henri Nouwen as he encourages us to treasure the word ‘chosen’: “When you lose touch with your choseness, you expose yourself to the temptation of self-rejection and that undermines the possibility of ever growing in the Beloved.” As we have told from many sources – in God’s family there are no unwanted children!

Be blessed!