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Daily Devotionals
Discovering Christ Day by Day
Devotional: November 5th

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Today’s Reading: John 15-17

“I Have Chosen You”

John 15:16

What could be more astounding, amazing, awe-inspiring, humbling, and glorious to a hell-deserving, sinful wretch than the assurance of his personal election to salvation by God?

Overwhelming Love

Do not talk to me about saved sinners who hate the doctrine of election! No such creatures exist! Find a sinner, I mean a person who knows something of the utter depravity of his heart, his complete spiritual impotence, and his just condemnation. Let that sinner be assured by Christ Himself that he is the object of God’s everlasting love, infallibly and unconditionally chosen to salvation before the world began, and immutably predestinated to obtain heavenly glory in Christ (Jeremiah 31:3; Ephesians 2:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:29-30). Find such a man and you will find a man full of love, gratitude, and praise to God, whose soul is overwhelmed by the realization of God’s electing love. Saved sinners bow before God with adoring hearts and cry with David, “Who am I, O Lord God, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?” (2 Samuel 7:18). Humbled at the knowledge of God’s election, they cry with Mephibosheth, “What is thy servant that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” (2 Samuel 9:8).

Humbling Election

Only arrogant, self-righteous men and women, who vainly imagine that they deserve special recognition from God, reply against God’s electing, distinguishing grace, “That’s not right!” Believers always thank God for election (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). God’s election truly humbles His saints. Believers know that we would never have chosen Christ. We had no desire for Him. Had we a desire for Him we had no ability to come to Him. We were dead in trespasses and in sins. Yet, He chose us! He chose us because He loved us. He loved us because He would. Nothing else can be said about it. God’s election is a matter of free, unconditional, everlasting grace.

Faith

When does the Son of God say to a sinner, “I have chosen you”? — As soon as he believes! We make our calling and election sure by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ is both the fruit and the confirmation of election. The Lord Jesus asks, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” (John 9:35). If you do, it is because “God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Rejoice, my soul, in God’s electing love and adore Him forever!

‘Tis not that I did choose Thee, for Lord, that could not be;

This heart would still refuse Thee, hadst Thou not chosen me.

Thou from the sin that stained me hast cleansed and set me free;

Of old Thou hast ordained me, that I should live to Thee.

‘Twas sov’reign mercy called me and taught my op’ning mind;

The world had else enthralled me, to heav’nly glories blind.

My heart owns none before Thee, for Thy rich grace I thirst;

This knowing, if I love Thee, Thou must have loved me first.

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