“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
One reason for thanksgiving is that God has chosen you from the beginning. Isn't it wonderful that God thought of you before the world began? Jesus taught His disciples on this important and mind stretching truth in John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
Jesus was able to do a great many things even in His humble estate on earth because He knew where He came from and where He was going. Thus, the little flock could endure persecution with its sufferings because it knew of its origin and its destiny.
We were chosen from the beginning to be saved from sin and death. Saved implies that we were once lost and in bondage to sin and its penalties, and we were. Indeed, In His infinite mercy, God has chosen to save a great number which no man can number, by His own self-sacrifice. We are sinners and were going to be judged with death and separation from God because of it, but God has done something to keep us from being eternally separated from Him. He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin and thereby save us. You are saved from the punishment of eternal separation from God and from hell. You are saved from the dominion and control of Satan. You are saved from the effects and consequences!
In addition, we are thankful to God for the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Each part of the Godhead saves us. The Father chose us, the Son died for us, and the Spirit convicts and cleanses us. We are set apart. We are made holy unto God not by our righteousness, but His. How does He do that? Through our belief in the truth. The Holy Spirit makes us as if we have not sinned because of the shed blood of Jesus.
We can be thankful He called you to this through the gospel. When we hear the story that we can turn to Christ believe and trust Him for our salvation eternally and forever, that is a call of God on our lives. The reason we are convicted is because God’s Spirit speaks to us. The reason we understand enough of it to want God is a gift from Him. The reason that we desire Christ is the grace of God calling us to Himself. That is worth thanksgiving.
Application: Know that You have been chose and God is working in your life to mak you more holy, more like Him
Prayer: Thank You God that You sent Your Son to be my Redeemer. That He took my sin and nailed it to the cross and that I am now alive in Christ Jesus.
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