January 29

Three Thoughts

You are not an accident. God chose you before the foundation of the world to be His. You were picked by HIM, set apart, marked as holy and blameless before Him. This is great news.

EPHESIANS 1:4

You are chosen. You are part of a royal priesthood. You are holy. You are God's own possession. That's your new identity as a son/daughter of God. You were handpicked by the King of the universe to show the world what He's like. We need to learn how to live like it!

1 PETER 2:9

Predestined. Called. Justified. Glorified. That's God's chain of grace. He started a great work within you and He will finish it. Your salvation is guaranteed and God doesn't leave things half-done, including YOU.

ROMANS 8:30

Two Quotes

Psychologist and author David G Benner on your identity:

"Some Christians base their identity on being a sinner. I think they have it wrong - or only half right. You are not simply a sinner; you are a deeply loved sinner. And there is all the difference in the world between the two."

Church father Irenaeus of Lyons on the glory of God:

"The glory of God is a human being fully alive, and to be fully alive is to have the Spirit of God dwelling within you."

Prayer

God, You chose me before I ever thought to choose You. You called me when I was far away from You. You justified me when I didn't deserve it. And You've promised to complete what You started. Help me to be confident in Your plans today. Amen.

Question

If you really believed God chose you on purpose, how would that change the way you show up today?

See you next Thursday,
Zach

P.S. Next week I'm writing a chapter for my next book on identity and how to become a Christian. What questions do you have that would be helpful for me to answer?