Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear people…all 5 minutes of what we have left in this time zone.
I’m stepping outside my current norm and launching another rare exception by sending this devotional.
We were able to get off on a walk up the hill again this morning. I didn’t do much jogging—mainly brisk walking. Thano came along again too. It offers a good time to discuss Biblical themes, grapple with some pressing issues, and try to do some planning.
May you live in His courts today.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Amen to that, David! I totally agree! There is no greater blessing available than the one offered by our loving Lord’s AMAZING GRACE! In Biblical terms it’s called RECONCILIATION—the bringing together and repair of a broken relationship—broken by the built-in NATURAL SIN NATURE. That’s the theme that Paul expounds upon in 2 Corinthians. Let me quote 2 Corinthians 5:11-20: “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
I trust we all agree as to who they are whom God chooses. Since “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), then we have reason to conclude that those He chooses for reconciliation and redemption are those who choose to repent. In other words, He chooses those who choose Him. Bingo! What an idea! So, “Whoever believes in Him (chooses to believe in Him) shall not perish, but have everlasting life”—living in His courts forever. Indeed, choices determine destiny.