Chosen by grace

What answer did God give him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshipped the false god Baal.’ It is the same way now: there is a small number left of those whom God has chosen because of his grace. His choice is based on his grace, not on what they have done. For if God’s choice were based on what people do, then his grace would not be real grace. (verses 4-6)

Read Romans 11:1-12

I remember the two Schwartzenegger-like students who were almost always chosen as captains for school sports. They, in tum, would choose their teams for whatever sport we were playing. Ability was the criterion. The athletic elite were chosen first, the unskilled and weak last. One day, to everyone’s surprise, one captain made the class weakling his first choice. Was it a joke? Or was it grace?

Did God choose to love you because of your ability or works? No. No-one is worthy to join his side. All have all sinned and fall well and truly short of the mark. God knows your weakness, yet he chose you. God chose you by grace—from his abundant love for you—without demanding your skill at being holy or pious. You have been chosen for the winning side because Christ is your Captain and he loves you: ‘It is by God’s grace that you have been saved’ (Ephesians 2:5b).

Having saved me, Lord Christ Jesus, now train me in your ways of grace. Amen.

by Simon Cooper, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.