Nougat 6

It always amazes me to observe how God operates. I’ve engaged in conversations about being chosen in several different spaces over this weekend, including yesterday’s Nougat. So here we are again, reflecting on Chosenness in Today’s Holy Nougat

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” ‭‭

Chosen pt 2

This Nougat sometimes makes for discomfort, as it’s not always easy to hear that God chooses whom God’s wishes, then issues them a call. For it implies that some people are not among the chosen. I’m sorry siblings, if you’re challenged by that, you’ll have to take it up with God. It’s a bit outside of my jurisdiction.

What I can say, however, is that the Bible chronicles God’s call to several persons. The responses were varied. Here are a few

Terah: father of Abram, Nahor,and Haran, received God’s call to move to Canaan. He left his home in Ur (somewhere in Turkey) toward Canaan, but got sidetracked (see Genesis 11:27-32). I’m arguing that it was God’s call because it was the same land to which Abram and the Children of Israel were led by God several years later.

Miriam: sister to Moses; called by God during childhood to care for her brother Moses, deflecting suspicion about his parentage. She was a member of the exodus leadership team (see Exodus 2:1-4;15:20-21), a prophet, and worship leader.

Amos: a farmer from Judah under the divided kingdom, sent by God to pronounce judgement on Israel, Judah’s sister kingdom. When told to return home by Amaziah the priest, Amos made it clear that he took orders only from the Lord (see Amos 7).

Ananias & Sapphira: members of the early church, invited to share in the wealth distribution plan for a just and equitable faith community. They chose to do otherwise, costing them their lives (see Acts 5).

Philip: an apostle of Y’shua, moved by God’s Spirit to explain the Gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch. Obediently, he made his way to Gaza strip, and the Ethiopian decided there and then to get baptized (see Acts 8:26-40).

The 7 Churches of Revelation: part of apostle John’s vision on the Isle of Patmos, all called by God in different ways, with varied responses. They too received their rewards (see Revelation 1:19-3:22).

Siblings, from where I sit, it sounds like those of us who’ve heard God’s call are Chosen: you, me, billion of others even. But we have to accept that we’re among the chosen of God. May God grant us keen hearing to detect God’s call when it comes.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ