DEVOTION TUES 9-07-10

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2010

“PREDESTINATION”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:4-5 (NKJV)

Yesterday we saw how God's will involves our salvation. He doesn't delight in judging people for their sin, but desires that they repent and receive His gift of eternal life. But now we come to another truth concerning God's will…predestination.

What does predestination mean? Predestination refers to the fact that God, in eternity past, long before we were ever conceived or born, chose those who would repent and believe in Him. And we read here that when it comes to His work of predestination that it was "according to the good pleasure of His will."

God never begrudgingly predestined anyone. He specifically wanted each and every person who belongs to Him. If He chose us, it was because it was His will to do so. So in addition to our salvation, God's predestination is also included in His will for our lives. This means we never need to doubt or worry that He's going to change His mind about our being His. He has no regrets about you being His. If we're His, it's because He wants it that way.

"Hang on! I thought salvation was something we chose for ourselves. Now you're saying salvation is something God chose for us. Which one is it?"

The answer? Both. God's Word clearly and consistently tells us that we are free to choose and that we have been chosen. "But that doesn't make sense to me!" Good. Because Isaiah 55:8 says that God's ways are above man's ways. Something's wrong if we're able to fully fathom every aspect of His ways, and this is a prime example of that.

Besides, we miss the point God is making when we simply focus on what we don't understand. Here's the point that's clear: If we've chosen to follow God, then it's His will that we have. Period.

Think about it…

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?