To Encourage You

Ephesians 1:4-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

Have you ever thought about how little in life we really control?  We had absolutely no choice as to when or where we would be born, who our parents would be, whether we would be male or female, how tall we would be, what color our eyes would be, how intelligent we would be, or what race we would be.  We may have chosen to have children, but we had absolutely no choice in who our children would actually be, their personalities, their dispositions, or their natural abilities. We didn’t choose the physical challenges we or others close to us have had to face.  We didn’t choose to have cancer, or for our loved ones to have this or other diseases.  And many of the things we do think we control can be stripped away from us in an instant, as any stroke victim can attest. 

Regarding spiritual matters, what choice did we really have in when or if we heard the gospel, or who we heard it from.  Yet God is sovereign over it all. 

On the other hand, we do have choices as to how we respond to the circumstances in our life that we have no control over.   As we consider that God has a purpose in every single issue and situation in life, and that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), let us set our minds to glorify Him.  Notice it says “who were called” which was a choice of God and not of us. 

God would have us glorify Him in all circumstances.  Paul said “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:10-13).  He also said “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthian 10:31).    In each of the circumstances and situations that God has chosen for us, let us glorify Him.  There are people in my life and in your life that no other person may have the opportunity to influence for Christ exactly like we do.  Do you realize then that the situations and circumstances in our life with them at this very moment were chosen for both us and them by God.  May God help us to make the choice to “Be very careful, then, how we live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).