God’s Sovereign Choice in Love
The LORD did not set his affections on you and choose you because you were more numerous that other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 7.7-8
These verses from the beginning of Moses’ great summary of God’s goodness to his people and final challenges and instructions as they were on brink of moving across the Jordan into the promised land immediately shatter any pretentions to pride that the people many have had. Likewise as we read them albeit in very different circumstances, they should remind us that we have no basis for pride as all that we are is solely of God’s doing with no contribution from ourselves.
‘Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to they cross I cling’
(Rock of Ages – Augustus Toplady)
Pride is one of the greatest barriers to world-wide peace and security as nations vie with each other for supremacy and wanting to be top dog.
Pride is one of the great barriers to harmonious living in a nation, in politics, national and local government, families and individuals within families.
Pride brings untold misery as way back in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve’s desire to be like God resulted in sin entering the world.
Pride, being part of fallen human nature, is also a destructive trait among those who own the name of Christ, in spite of all that we know of God as revealed in the passage which is our focus today.
As God’s people we are not where we are today because of anything which we have done and this applies on the global scale and on the individual level for God is Sovereign over all and in all things.
Isaiah tells us that the nations are but a ‘drop in a bucket’ Isaiah 40.25 and are, like it or not, acknowledged or not, ultimately in his hand.
It is a humbling thing to have to admit, and pride prevents the majority from acknowledging it and giving God the glory but for the believer it is something different altogether.
Christian brother or sister why are you where you are today and who you are today?
It is because the LORD loved you!
Reflect on that at the beginning of a new day, a new week and marvel that he has set is love on you and give him all the glory.
Part of my daily Bible reading this morning included Isaiah 39 where King Hezekiah received envoys from Babylon and ‘proudly’ showed them all of his riches with no acknowledgement that they were from heaven. This the God of occurred after God had graciously added 15 years to his life when he pleaded that the illness, from which he was suffering, should not be terminal! He was consumed with his own power and security and he was one of the ‘good’ kings of Judah.
We have received everything from God in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
‘What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer, there is no more for heaven now to give’
(Not I but Christ – CityAlight)
Give all the glory to him today and seek the aid of his Spirit to supress all pride.