20 Feb March 7th Daily Devotion

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

GOD CHOSE YOU

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”

Although today’s devotional words were originally addressed to the Christians in Thessalonica, they are equally addressed to you.  As God Chose them to be saved so He has chosen you.  His method has not changed.

God chose and saved you “through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”  The Holy Spirit is still at work today bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ and then keeping them in that faith.  The tools He uses are the same, namely, the Means of Grace. (God’s Word, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.)

God’s plan for your salvation sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  However, it required His Son Jesus humbling Himself, becoming obedient to His Father to the very point of suffering and dying on Calvary’s cross literally becoming abandoned by all.   Yet Jesus prayed from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

This is how great God the Father’s love is for you.  He sacrificed His Son Jesus in order for your sins to be forgiven and you to be declared holy, righteous and fit to live in heaven.  You are saved solely and completely, not by anything you have done, but by what God, His Son and the Holy Spirit have done and do for you.

Through the faith the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart you believe God’s word that assures you that because of His undeserved love for you, the saving work of His son on the cross and through the tomb and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit you are saved.  He chose you already in eternity to be His very own, to live with Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, holiness, and purity.  To God be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Prayer:  Thank You Father for Your unconditional love, for choosing me to be Your child and through the Holy Spirit keeping me in the true faith to life everlasting.  Amen.

Let me be Thine forever, My faithful God and Lord;

Let me forsake Thee never Nor wander from Thy Word.

Lord, do not let me waver, But give me steadfastness,

And for such grace forever Thy holy name I’ll bless.

Lord Jesus, my salvation, My light, my life divine,

My only consolation, O make me wholly Thine!

For Thou hast dearly bought me With blood and bitter pain,

Let me, since Thou hast sought me, Eternal life obtain.

And Thou, O holy Spirit, My comforter and guide,

Grant that in Jesus’ merit I always may confide,

Him to the end confessing Whom I have known by faith.

Give me Thy constant blessing And grant a Christian death.

(LSB 689)