Arranged Marriage

Daily Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1-2

 From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2.13b, NIV)

Devotional Thought: My four-year-old grandson Grayson has a sweet little friend named Fay.  Her parents love the Lord, just as Grayson's parents do.  They have joked together about an arranged wedding!  Not a bad idea to choose a spouse for your child!  I wish it worked that way, but they have to choose for themselves.

It's nice to be chosen, isn't it?  Especially if its God doing the choosing!  Rejoice, for God chose you...

·       from the beginning.  Your place in the family is not by accident, nor is it a recent development.  God has reserved this place for you from the very beginning.  No one else can fill your place.

·       to save you.  The curse of sin is death, but God has given you life through the death and resurrection of his Son.  God could have left you to your own devices and allowed you to sink further and further into sin and despair, but he chose to rescue you!

·       to set you apart for himself.  That is what it means to be sanctified.  You are completely his and your life is lived for him and his purposes.  You are the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5) and God’s treasured possession (1 Peter 2).  You are marked in him as “holy to the Lord.”

·       to save you through faith.  “It is by grace you are saved, through faith” (Ephesians 2.8).  God does not “force” you to be in his family.  He partners with you, and your part in the relationship is faith.  Salvation is sweeter knowing that his love is sincere and free, not deceptive and coercive.

God chose you long ago.  He chose to save you.  He chose how to save you.  He chose to partner with you.  Amazing grace!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for choosing me, for saving me, for sanctifying me, for giving me the gift of faith.  Lord, I choose you, too!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 29.7-11

7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!