Irrevocable love.

Maybe you're like me and needed to hear this too, but God's gifts and His call can never be withdrawn; the gifts that He's given to us, as well as the calling that He's placed over our lives are both irrevocable:

ir·rev·o·ca·ble

[ˌi(r)ˈrevəkəb(ə)l, ˌi(r)rəˈvōkəb(ə)l]

not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered; final:

Despite my past and the things that I've done; despite the mistakes that I've made and my foolish decisions; despite the feelings of shame and unworthiness and what the voices in my head say, I am chosen. And there is nothing that can ever change that.

Romans 11:29 <3

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

1 Peter 1:18-20 NIV (2011)

Coffee + Chosen By God (by R.C. Sproul)

Instructions to Elders

1 So I exhort the Elders among you—I who am their fellow Elder and have been an eye-witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and am also a sharer in the glory which is soon to be revealed. 2 Be shepherds of God's flock which is among you. Exercise the oversight not reluctantly but eagerly, in accordance with the will of God; not for base gain but with cheerful minds; 3 not lording it over your Churches but proving yourselves patterns for the flock to imitate. 4 And then, when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the never-withering wreath of glory.

Cast Your Cares on Him

5 In the same way you younger men must submit to your elders; and all of you must gird yourselves with humility towards one another, for God sets Himself against the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore beneath the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time He may set you on high. 7 Throw the whole of your anxiety upon Him, because He Himself cares for you. 8 Curb every passion, and be on the alert. Your great accuser, the Devil, is going about like a roaring lion to see whom he can devour. 9 Withstand him, firm in your faith; knowing that your brethren in other parts of the world are passing through just the same experiences.

Benediction and Final Greetings

10 And God, the giver of all grace, who has called you to share His eternal glory, through Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will Himself make you perfect, firm, and strong. 11 To Him be all power unto the Ages of the Ages! Amen.

12 I send this short letter by Silas, our faithful brother—for such I regard him—in order to encourage you, and to bear witness that what I have told you is the true grace of God. In it stand fast. 13 The Church in Babylon, chosen like yourselves by God, sends greetings, and so does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ. — 1 Peter 5 | Weymouth New Testament (WNT) The Weymouth New Testament is in the public domain. Cross References: Exodus 10:3; Numbers 18:7; Job 1:7; Job 22:29; Psalm 37:5; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 119:28; Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 28:15; Ezekiel 34:4; Matthew 5:47; Matthew 20:25; Matthew 23:12; Luke 24:48; John 10:11; John 21:16; John 22:29; Acts 11:23; Acts 11:30; Acts 12:12; Acts 12:25; Acts 14:22; Acts 15:22; Romans 11:36; Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 9:25; Colossians 2:5; 1 Peter 4:11; 3 John 1:14

The Potter’s claim to His clay

Romans 9:14-24 What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For He tells Moses:

I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh:

I raised you up for this reason so that I may display My power in you and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

So then, He shows mercy to those He wants to, and He hardens those He wants to harden.

You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?” But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath ready for destruction? And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy that He prepared beforehand for glory— on us, the ones He also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

From clay, a potter can make pots that will hold beautiful flowers. Yet, from the same clay, he may make pots that will be used as bedpans. Both have their purpose in life.

Like the potter with his clay, so does the Lord create and mold us for use. Some of us He will mold into godly people, while others would be used—like Pharaoh—to teach us to come back to Him. The ones who are molded “for dishonor” serve as a reminder of His grace towards us, the ones who are saved.

This might seem unfair to some, to which the apostle Paul rightly replied to that type of thinking in Romans 9:19-21. He made us. He gets to use us as He sees fit. Some will be godly people; others will serve as a reminder of His judgment—like the Assyrian army—on disobedient peoples.

I thank God that He chose a sinner like me to be saved. As Charles Spurgeon put it, "I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards."

The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:4, "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him." He chose us; we didn't choose Him. And such grace exists so that we don't get to boast in our own decision to follow Him. Grace is a gift bestowed upon us. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Though we often can't see the purpose of the ones who aren't chosen to be saved, God has a purpose for them. And because we are all created by Him with a purpose, let us pray for each other and treat each other with respect. By loving one another, even our enemies, we are ultimately honoring God.

May, 17 (Evening) Devotion

“Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee.”

Isaiah 41:9

If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has been to make us God’s servants. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones, but yet, blessed be his name, we are his servants, wearing his livery, feeding at his table, and obeying his commands. We were once the servants of sin, but he who made us free has now taken us into his family and taught us obedience to his will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we would if we could. As we hear God’s voice saying unto us, “Thou art my servant,” we can answer with David, “I am thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds.” But the Lord calls us not only his servants, but his chosen ones—“I have chosen thee.” We have not chosen him first, but he hath chosen us. If we be God’s servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace the change must be ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the voice of unchanging grace declared, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Long ere time began or space was created God had written upon his heart the names of his elect people, had predestinated them to be conformed unto the image of his Son, and ordained them heirs of all the fulness of his love, his grace, and his glory. What comfort is here! Has the Lord loved us so long, and will he yet cast us away? He knew how stiffnecked we should be; he understood that our hearts were evil, and yet he made the choice. Ah! our Saviour is no fickle lover. He doth not feel enchanted for awhile with some gleams of beauty from his church’s eye, and then afterwards cast her off because of her unfaithfulness. Nay, he married her in old eternity; and it is written of Jehovah, “He hateth putting away.” The eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude and upon his faithfulness which neither can disown.

Daily Bible and Devotional for Women - http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=daily.bible.for.woman

You Call This a Plan?

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”…

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Amos 7:14 God Will Use Anyone

Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Amos 7:14 People often feel that they are either overqualified or under qualified for a position. They look at themselves and choose whether they want a position or not. If they do not feel as they are fit perfectly for the position, they will ignore it…

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Discussion on GOD’s Election to Love Some & “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” [Ex 33:19; Ro 9:15-16; Ro 9:13 [quoting Malachi 1:2]

It was only back in 2017 when I first heard of this concept and it was from the Reformed TULIP, so not a good time, as it was way too much information all at once.

[at around the time of RC’s Death: December 14, 2017]

Comment: May 23, 2023 @8:00AM | Zach But I thought everyone who apparently builds their life on sand was predestined to do so.  Am I wrong?

Comment: May 24, 2023 @7:20AM | Aletheia  Not predestine. Pre-determined

Comment: May 23, 2023 @ 8:20AM | Zach | @Aletheia  what’s the difference?

Comment: May 24, 2023 @8:10AM | Aletheia  @Zach  The difference is the Greek words that the Bible uses. The Greek word for the Elect is actually preboundreed or pre-Horisoned. The Greek word for the non-elect is pre-written.

If GOD wanted to use the same words for both HE would have, but HE didn’t.

Comment: May 24, 2023 @8:50AM | Zach  @Aletheia  so the problem is we don’t speak Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.  And mistaken translations that use predestined.  Again what’s the difference between predestined and predetermined?

Comment: May 24, 2023 @8:45AM | Aletheia  Z The difference would be the Greek word for Predestined has to do with light & the truth. The Greek word for the unelect doesn’t.

Comment: May 24, 2023 @9:11AM | Zach  @Aletheia  ;)

The Shepherd of Souls

I had an idea for a COTL AU in which the Lamb is a reincarnation of the original god of death, known as the Shepherd of Souls.

And You Shall Never Displease Me

As someone who has an ongoing struggle with feeling like a failure, this article hits hard. From Challies.org……….. https://www.challies.com/articles/and-you-shall-never-displease-me/

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Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills -- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts."

Exodus 35:30-33 NIV (2011)

Summer reading: Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul

my little meow meow

Page 74

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Grace Nugget for 2.28.23

Grace Nuggets: Simple reminders of God’s great love for you.

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