Elected should obey
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Paul in the scriptures prior to this had touched on the topic of predestination; in its simplest form the idea that God knows who is, and is not, going to be a child of His. Those that the Spirit tugs upon their hearts, and they respond to His calling, are all known by God outside the sphere of time. It is impossible for us to understand the idea of foreknowledge, for our entire lives are centered around time. But if you can grasp with a humble heart in the recognition of being a chosen child of His, you can grasp the understanding of the security of a hope that grows in that knowledge. You are one of the elected by God, and you hold His promises of eternity.
I am in the final days of the biggest act of obedience in my life; putting our home up for sale. God laid it on my heart three times, the first two I denied, the last I could not. The only thing that even came close was downsizing my business in the midst of a booming economy. It is a very scary thing to lead my family out into the unknown, but I know God is telling me to. I know God laid it on my heart, yet in these closing days my enemy is hammering me in doubt and fear. Satan is the king of deception, and the father of lies, and he comes to try and get you to take your eyes off God; to stop these acts that draw you closer to Him. But in these trying days with a heart that seeks Him continually, my faith grows. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is in my daily growing relationship that I know He has a plan for me; I know Whom is the still small voice I am listening to. It is through daily time in prayer and His Word that these things are found.
Paul continues in Romans 8 with a beautiful summary of Gods love in 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Are you living your life in the understanding that you are one of the “elect”? Are you living your life with the understanding that no-matter how hard it may get here, that you will live in paradise for eternity with the One whom elected you? Or are you letting that evil one plant fears and doubts keeping you from obeying what God has laid on your heart? That is most likely keeping your eyes from being opened to another realm of what God has in store for you. Being an elected child of God, is being an obedient disciple to what He lays on your heart. He will use your heart of obedience to draw you closer to Him, and to draw others through those acts also.
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