3/10/17
“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you
because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all
people: But because the Lord loved you….” Deuteronomy 7:7-8(a)
Dear Congregation,
This is such a
beautiful reminder of the grace of God. There is nothing that we have in ourselves
that makes us God’s people. He loved us, we do not know why, and therefore he
chose us. When you struggle to feel loved, accepted, or known, remember this
verse and remember God’s free grace. Our Lord is one who glorifies Himself in
the simple things, the small groups, and the weak and humble people. God loved
us and gave himself for us and to us.
Another aspect of this that is
brought out to me is how God looks at and views those who are in Him and are
saved. He does not see our sin anymore and he does not identify us with our
faults and problems. Think of the Biblical examples of how God sees His own
weak people in the long run. The Lord did not cast off Peter for his denial but
shows him mercy and restoration. James 5:11 tells us to remember the patience
of Job. There are plenty of negative things that could be remembered about Job,
but God directs us to his given grace. In Hebrews 11 Rahab is remembered for
her faith, not her vocation or her lie to the soldiers. In I Peter 3:6, Sarah
is remembered for her faithfulness to Abraham, not her scoffing at God. Hebrews
11 as a whole marks and remembers flawed people for Grace and faith given, not
their sins. Take comfort in your status before God as justified. Do not cower
in fear about the judgment seat of Christ. Your account will be for how you
used what God gave you not for your sins. Despite your weakness, sin,
insecurity, and mistakes, God has redeemed you and made you his own. Where sin
abounded, Grace did much more abound! This is true for me, for you, for Grace Community
Church
In Christ,
Pastor Basile
