Ephesians 1:3-4 ~ Chosen

This week's service ran a little differently. As Josh was away, Charles (our other pastor) gave us a sermon on being Chosen. We were asked if Christians are more blessed than the non-Christians. And if we know how we can be blessed as Christians.

In Ephesians 1:3, bless appears 3 times, showing us that the one deserving praise is God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for He is the source of blessings who has blessed us in Christ and given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Jesus is referred to as our Lord, indicating His Kingship over us, and so, He rightfully deserves our praise and submission. The spiritual blessing in the heavenly places acknowledges that we are in relationship with God.

Verse 4 tells us that we are chosen before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Being chosen by the blessed God is indeed a blessing itself! It informs us that our relationship with God is no longer dependent on our feelings or our performance, neither is it based on our circumstances. God's commitment to us is not a "Gen Y" kind of commitment like how we click "Maybe Attending" in our RSVP on a Facebook event page rather than a definite "Attending" or "Not Attending". His commitment is not "STABO" (Subject To A Better Offer) but one that began even before we came to our being. And all these that we may appear unblemished before Him because Christ first died and sanctified us!

Now, the question is no longer how we can be blessed but the realization of how we have already been blessed! What a privilege it is indeed for us to be chosen as Christians!

Thank you, Father, for choosing me despite the wretched sinner that I am...