JUN 9

1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Memorise James 1:9
“…how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Who do you think deserves to be saved? If you could choose anyone to save in this world, who would you reward with the gift of salvation? Would it be the kindest person you know? Would it be the most hardworking person you know? Or would it be the person with the most degrees? The one who does best in school? Or the one who has achieved the most in society, or holds the highest paying job? Perhaps it would be the president of the country, or the boss of a very large company? This is how the world would choose to reward people with accolades.

However, today’s passage tells us something very different. God’s way of choosing is very different from the world’s way. Verses 27 and 28 tell us that God chooses the foolish things, the weak things, the base things, the things that are despised. In fact, verse 26 tells us that among those whom God calls unto salvation, most are not the wise and mighty men of this world. Few noble men are called. God has a very different criterion for choosing who to save. God has not shown us what this criterion is, but we know what it is not. Verse 29 says that God does not save us because of our personal achievements. Nothing anyone has done earns favor before God, requiring Him to grant salvation because of their deeds. Salvation is not by our own merit. We also learn from these verses that the reason is because God wants to ensure that no man can boast of any achievement on their part.

If you are saved, count it all joy that you are among the chosen! Salvation is a great privilege, it is not an entitlement. It is only by God’s great mercies and grace that we can be saved. We must understand the infinite magnitude of our salvation, of how we are saved from eternal hell and granted eternal life in heaven. One day when we appear before Christ, we will understand more fully the extent of our salvation. But in the meantime, what should our response be? Is it not great unending humility and gratitude? We must be thankful and we must do what we can to serve Him in gratitude. This will be subject of our discourse in the weeks to come –Service.

Thought: What if you were not saved?
Prayer: Father, thank you for saving me. Show me now how I can return a small part of Your great work in me.