20 Dec January 20th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

 LOVED AND CHOSEN BY GOD

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”

Do you remember when in your childhood on the playground you and your friends would play a team game such as softball, baseball, or soccer?  Two in the group would become captains and then they would choose who they wanted to be on their team.  They chose with the goal in mind of having the best players.  It was not a good feeling to be the last or even the latter two or three left to be chosen.

Today’s devotional verse speaks of God doing the choosing.  The first and foremost motivation for His choosing, verse 4 says, is His love for those He chooses.  Secondly, when choosing you, He did not look at your physical or intellectual abilities.  Know, instead, He gave you all the gifts you would ever need to, so to speak, be on His team.

Filled with God’s love, having all of your faults and inadequacies removed through the saving work of His Son on Calvary’s cross, He prepared you through your baptism and the power of the Gospel to live your life in accord with His will.  Baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, filled with God’s love, daily forgiven of your sins, there is nothing in you to prevent you from being on His team even into eternity.

Your relationship with God is not one that exists until someone or something better comes along.  Verse 5 says it exists because of the Holy Spirit.  And, your relationship with God is “with deep conviction.”  This is God’s work in you!  His work gives you assurance and certainty that you have been chosen by Him.

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, for choosing me for Jesus’ sake.  In His name.  Amen.

Not what these hands have done Can save the guilty soul;

Not what this toiling flesh has borne Can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do Can give me peace with God;

Not all my prayers and sighs and tears Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ, Can ease this weight of sin;

Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, Can give me peace within.

Thy love to me, O God, Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,

Can rid me of this dark unrest And set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God, To me can pardon speak;

Thy pow’r alone, O Son of God, Can this sore bondage break.

I bless the Christ of god, I rest on love divine,

And with unfal’tring lip and heart I call this Savior mine.

(LSB 567)