THOUGHTS, December 7, 2020 

                                               Devotional on I Thessalonians 1:4

                             "knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you."

This is the Gospel in a nutshell.  The Gospel in a manger.  The Gospel on a cross.  The Gospel in an empty grave.  The Gospel's hope of heaven.   Knowing.  Not doubting God's love of you.  

Brethren, adopted into the family of Abba Father.  Gathered in, invited to abide no matter race, country, tongue or gender, slave or free.  

Beloved.  Who has called you beloved?  Many know they are loved, but this choice be-loved.  It is God's description of His children.  We are not all God's children, but it describes those who have chosen to be-loved.  

His choice of you.  Wow.  This is not the playground of life where wimps like me were the last to be chosen.  He has chosen you.  It is a gift, an undeserved gift, a gift that you must choose to accept and open.  This is not a you're in, you're out without hope kind of choice God makes.  His choice is "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Remember Paul wrote this to the Thessalonians, Gentiles, non-Jews who have believed and have become saved.   This blasts open the teaching that only Jews were God's chosen people.  The Jews rejected Jesus, but the good news is that salvation is opened as wide open as Jesus arms were wide open and nailed to a cross. Thus, Paul can say, "His choice of you," to the non-Jews.  It is inclusive, not exclusive.  Radical.  My great grandpa Uncle Buddy used to say, contrary to the theology of Election that God choses some, but not others, "God voted for me, the devil voted against me, but I cast the deciding vote."

Adam Clarke says, "'Knowing...your election of God.' Being assured from the doctrine which I have delivered to you, and which God has confirmed by various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, that He has chosen and called the Gentiles to the same privileges to which He chose and called the Jews; and that, as they have rejected the offers of the gospel, God has now elected the Gentiles in their stead.  This is the election the Thessalonians knew." 

Accept it.  Believe it and, beloved, be-loved.

I love the Christmas carol, "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne."  The fifth verse goes, "When the heavens shall ring and her choir shall sing At Thy coming to victory, Let Thy voice call me home, saying, 'Yet there is room; There is room at My side for thee!"