Imagine the president of the United States walking intently towards a crowd of people which you were part.
He stops; eyes searching the faces and then requests that everyone from a certain area to raise their hands. He continues looking, before he once again shouts that all those from a suburb of the area previously referred to are the only ones who are to keep their hands raised.
So, imagine your reaction when he names your street, you might well ask what on earth is going on? Could little ol’ me be of interest to the world’s most important man? Surely not you think there must be someone else who is far more important living on my street.
Another shout, the president has mentioned your house number. Your brain freezes, unable to take it all in, did he? Could it be? Your mind races, am I the one? Did I hear it right? Time freezes, then following your response you come face to face with the president.
Who says, follow me!
We’re going to the White House!!!
An imaginary story to illustrate a point.
Now think again, only in a spiritual sense, you read the bible and as certain words sink in you realise that the previous imaginary story is true, only on a far greater scale.
Suddenly you see the commitment you made in a totally different light because you are realising just how personalised that event was and also what occurred many centuries before you made your decision! You thought that you’re becoming a Christian started when you gave your life and that it was done as many others had done before. In other words, you are part of a community of believers.
Ephesians 1 v 4 however, when seen in the reality of revelation gives a far different insight to your commitment
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
We were chosen, put another way we didn’t choose to become sons and daughters of the highest authority ever known, but instead, the highest authority chose you and I, and that took place before creation!!
To increase the personalisation, we also read in Hebrews 2 v 11 about our relationship with Jesu. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
The family ties are further strengthened by 1 John 3:1, See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are
Summing up these verses when we are born again through our acceptance of Christ as our saviour not only are we going from the kingdom of Satan as a ruler to that of God’s kingdom, we also become valued parts of God’s family.
This has tremendous importance! Because Christ achieved what Colossians 2:15 confirms, Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Then we need to also take into account Philippians 2:9, Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
We, that is you and I individually have become part of the winning team. So, we no longer have to fight to get the victory, we now need to be concerned with defending the victory that the kingdom we are now in provides.
One of the biggest indicators that God works on an individual, personal level is that we have free will, as previously said God doesn’t force,
He invites, whereby we either accept or decline His invitation. How did you feel about this invitation? The same as being invited to te White House?
To end, I will leave this question for you and I to consider, how do we use our free will in respect of our relationship with God?
To build our relationship with Him?
With all blessings
Tony
PS This blog is normally updated weekly.