Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 12, 2015
Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him. Psalm 4:3
God chooses His children for Himself. Our relationship with our Lord is all about Him. It is all about His desires, His pleasures, His vision, His goals and His will. When we came to God we came empty handed clinging only to the cross of Christ. So in our surrender to our Savior we emptied ourselves and received Jesus. We went from self-sufficient to God dependent. We went from ungodly to godly. We went from an impersonal relationship with a distant God to an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. God chose us for Himself.
Furthermore, the Lord wants you to know and not forget to follow His heart. He owns your life. You may be struggling with traveling overseas for the sake of His cause. But Jesus commands are clear to go into all the world and make disciples. Or you may be too busy to build a relationship with your neighbors. But your sensitive Savior implores you to love your neighbors. You are at His disposal to carry out His desires.
“Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full” (Psalm 31:23).
Moreover God offers a clear channel of communication for His children. He hears when we call to Him. Prayer is not passive for our Heavenly Father. He is interested in our intense circumstances and our heartfelt fears. He listens to and answers our prayers. It is not always an answer of our choice. He defines His will for us with His answers of ‘no’ and His answers of ‘yes’. We have no need to fear for our Heavenly Father is near.
The more we constantly converse with Christ surely we will speak all the more boldly to men. Prayer is a purging and a preparation. It is God’s platform to launch us out into fields that are ripe for harvest. It is a preparation for engagement in the lives of people. Prayer fills us with love so we can be emptied of love. We are chosen by God. What He chooses He makes holy. Without holiness we cannot see our Savior. Because He was poured out we are sold out!
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me for Yourself, for drawing me unto You.
Application: What does it mean to be set apart for the Lord? How does God preserve His people?
Related Readings: Psalm 18:25; Micah 7:7; 1 Timothy 4:7; Revelation 2:10
Post/Tweet this today: The more we converse with Christ the more boldly we speak out for Christ. #chosenbyGod #WisdomHunters
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