Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 8B—Chosen by Grace Alone

One of the positions that is mine in Christ, is that I am Chosen. There it is chosen before the foundation of the world—“predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Before all of you jump into the ageless discussions regarding what does predestination mean. Let me say that discussion, argument in fact has been going on since St. Augustine and St. Pelagius in the first century. So, I don’t intend to jump into that argument. Rather, I want to approach this from what does it all mean for me and for you who do know Christ as your Savior.

Original photo courtesy of Jim Peregoy

Furthermore, I recognize that there are many aspects of God’s wisdom that my finite brain may not fully comprehend. Indeed that was the approach Paul took. He accepted both that God chose and predestined those who would be saved and at the same time accepted that it was of utmost importance to go throughout the world and preach the gospel to lead men to a saving knowledge of Christ.

He did not split hairs upon both truths being true at the same time. Look at this scripture

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Power-filled Postive Thinking-Chapter 8A—Chosen-HOW AMAZING IS THAT!!

It was late November and there were multiple houses in my neighborhood being broken into.  What was a formerly good neighborhood had suddenly begun to be unsafe.  Mom was away in rehab and would be for another month or two.  The house was left alone for the long hours that I worked and besides I realized that when mom did come home; I needed to find a way to keep her safe.  I had put in a full alarm system; yet, thought perhaps a large guard dog would help.  After reviewing a website that had rescue dogs, I had come upon the picture and story of Jason.  He was a Rottweiler/hound mix who was a little older than the other dogs; yet, he caught my eye.  When I arrived at the shelter, the workers began to try to convince me to take another younger dog.  They said Jason did not do well with other dogs and in fact had been returned from every foster home they had placed him.  Currently, Jason was living in a crate.  After I saw several other dogs paraded for me to see, I insisted on seeing Jason.  They locked up all the other dogs and came out then with Jason.  His face was scarred and there seemed sadness about him as he anxiously looked at me.   He responded quickly to the slightest touch of my hand with eager anticipation, a yearning look in his eyes.  Then I announced, “I choose Jason.”  Over the course of the next several months, Jason changed.  He had pulled me harshly as we walked; but, even when he pulled me down—I never let go. Then, as though he realized that it was love that made me hold tight and he quit pulling against me on the walks. With a sigh because it was late and I was exhausted, he watched as I had cleaned up the trash he had thrown all over the kitchen floor; then, he never again went through the trash cans.  He slept on the dining room rug under the table just outside my bedroom door as though keeping guard to protect my room—his eyes always fixed on my door.  My house did get broken into two years later and Jason ran the burglars off.  Six months after that invasion, Jason died.  A dog with so many scars, unwanted and abandoned had become the best dog I had ever seen or known because I had chosen him. 

God chose me.  Perhaps more than I would like to admit, I was much like Jason. You see God knew all my frailties, my insecurities, my fears, my failures, and all the scars that would need to be healed.  He saw the entirety of my life and still chose me.  Ever so gently and patiently, He has loved me, guided me, and transformed me.  When I would dig through the trash of life searching for counterfeit joys, He would clean up the mess I made and look upon me with His compassion.  When I would pull hard against His will, He never let go of me. As the years went by, I began to realize what a wondrous act of Grace it was that God chose me.

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Power-filled Positive Thinking Part 7c—Seven Reasons I Have a Heart filled with Joyous Hope as His Redeemed

In Christ, I am redeemed. I am set free from the chains of guilt, shame, sin and death. Why then do I still fail God at times? Why do my best efforts fall by the wayside when I with all my heart reach out to help a friend? Why am I still at times impatient with mom? Why can’t I live a life that fully Glorifies God in all that I say and all that I do? Why, oh why does my faith ever stumble and falter after all that He has revealed to me and done for me?

Christ, at God the Father’s command took upon himself all my sin so that I might be made into God’s righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5: “²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” This truth is certain; yet, throughout this journey I still have this body. Yes, there are times that I would groan within awaiting the redemption of our body from its aches, pains, fatigues, failures, and sins. Just as Paul wrote: Romans 8: “²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”

The truth that in Christ I am redeemed provides me hope to rise above my own frailties, failures, pains, and suffering to face each new morning with joyous anticipation of seeing God’s Glory revealed. Because in Christ I am His redeemed, beloved, blessed saint, I have nothing to fear and I have seven reasons to have a heart overflowing with hope. These seven reasons are:

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Redemption is Mine

by Effie Darlene Barba

Redemption is mine

Oh what can it mean

Purchased as His

Washed and made clean

Tremendous the price

He paid for my life

When all that I did

Was cause him such strife

How wondrous the thought

I have been set free

My chains are now gone

Oh such jubilee

Embraced by His love

His Joy fills my heart

E’er in His presence

No way to depart

Oh how can I not

Give all that is mine

To follow His will

His Glory to shine

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 7b—In Christ Are Redeemed from Sin’s Chains into Joyous, Abundant Life

Redemption—to be redeemed literally means to be “bought back” and restored. Throughout the Old Testament, the word redeemed was used in reference to God redeeming a people to Himself—drawing them out, bringing them out of slavery, and mercifully forgiving their sins. All of this pointing toward the “Messiah” who would pay the price once and for all for our sins. David understood this truth and writes often about his being redeemed. David understood that it was God’s mercy and grace that would redeem David from the chains of sin and death that bound him in this world. David was a man of great passion, who loved God with a fervent love. Did that always keep David from sin? No, we know that—the Bible very clearly reports David failures as well—his moments of pride, his adultery, the ordering of Uriah’s certain death in battle, the lying to hide his sin, and his failures as a father to discipline his own son.

Still, David understood that if he were to be “redeemed” from the chains of sins, the penalties of sin, and from death’s clutches; it would be due to God’s mercy and would take more than the sacrifice of a lamb or burnt offering. It required a broken and contrite heart—a heart that had seen the depth of its own sin against God. A heart that had been stripped of all selfish, self-exalting pride

. Just like David, we can never be redeemed unless we understand that we have no hope to be unshackled from these chains without a redeemer to set us free. Look at just a few of the prayers of David recorded in the Psalms.

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