THE VERSE
Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.
~Deuteronomy 10:14-15
THE THOUGHT
How great is the special, choosing love that God has focused on us, His people! He is the God of the highest heaven and all the earth; all that exists was created and is owned by Him, ruled by Him, and made to serve all His purposes. He is King of kings and Lord of lords; He rules the universe by the power of His might, and all that He wills comes to pass. So how is it that such a great God would take notice of sinners like us, let alone set His heart in love on us? For Him to notice us at all is surprising; for Him to set His heart to redeem us at such great cost to Himself is astounding, flabbergasting, outrageous. To the Lord belongs heaven and earth… YET, in spite of this, He has set His heart on us.
How this should humble us! He did not choose us in Christ before the foundation of the world because we were strong, or better than others, or more inclined to spiritual things. No, He chooses the foolish things, the weak things, the things that are not. He chooses the broken, the proud, the sinner, the ones who have set themselves up against His rule. And with surprising grace and inexplicable kindness, He sets His love on people like them, people like us. Before the foundation of the earth He chooses, and then sets His heart and His power to overcomes our hostility and rebellion and make us His forever.
What love is this? What kindness and power are we dealing with? This is the God of all grace, who has called you– you, of all peoppeople to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus. Fall on your face in amazement, in wonder, in thanks. He has set His heart in love on you, and He will never turn away from doing good to you, now and to eternity.
THE PRAYER
Father, I don’t know how to respond to the great love with which You have loved me. There are no words, there is no action or obedience, that could ever suffice to thank you for saving me, a helpless sinner. So take myself, my life, my all. You are my God and my Savior, and I want to love and serve You forever.
EXTENDED READING
Detueronomy 10:12-21
Ephesians 1:3-14
1 Peter 5:10-11
THE QUOTE
“If God wills the evangelization of the world, and you refuse to support missions, then you are opposed to the will of God.” ~Oswald J. Smith