An added joy to being saved

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Samuel 10:1–11:15 
John 6:43-71 
Psalm 107:1-43 
Proverbs 15:1-3

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

John 6:44 (ESV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today tells us that no one goes to God in salvation unless God has initiated the relationship. God begins the process, then we respond.

This is a beautiful truth and those who deny it not only deny Scripture but also rob themselves of a blessing. 

Let me illustrate...

Imagine you are a young child again. You have gathered with a group of other kids on a field and are prepared to play a fun game of kickball. Team captains are selected. Those two team captains begin to pick individual team members. Back and forth they go as the number of kids behind them grows and the pool of potential team players gets smaller.

Now imagine that there is an odd number of potential players. When both team captains have made their selections and an equal number of players stand behind them, they realize that there is one player left over. He stands awkwardly in front of everyone as the team captains decide who gets him. Then, as if to simply finish the job so that they can play ball, the lone child is told that he can choose which team he wants to play on. He sheepishly makes his pick and, with head aimed at the ground, slowly takes his place with one of the teams but silently wanders if they even want him. Honestly, he wanted to play kickball but now he just wants to go home.

Now, let me ask you a question: Would you rather be one of the children that was selected or would you rather be the one who got to make his own choice?

To tell you the truth, I would much rather be selected. That makes me feel like I'm wanted. It makes me feel valuable. 

Friend, there is a paradox in Scripture regarding this matter. Certain passages tell us that the responsibility is ours to believe (John 3:36) and that absolutely anyone who chooses may come (Revelation 22:17).

But, if the choice was solely ours, we might wander if God even wants us. We may feel as if while we chose Him, would He have chosen us.

Praise the Lord that God does choose us! Our Verse for Today tells us that when we come to God, it is because He first reached out to us and drew us to Himself. That means that God did want us! We are in His family because He chose us!

... and there is incredible joy in knowing that God has chosen us!

Someone has said that there is a doorway to salvation. As we approach the door to be saved, we see that above the door it is written: "Whosoever will may come" (Revelation 22:17). And when we walk through the door and are saved, then we look back to the door and see that above this side of the door it says: "Chosen before the creation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). 

To be saved, you must choose God, my friend. There's no getting around that. If you end up spending eternity in Hell, it's not God's fault. It's yours for not choosing Him.

But, if you choose Him, you can rest assured that it's because He reached out to you first. You chose Him but He also chose you. Find comfort and joy in that thought today.

John 6:44 (ESV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."