Chosen and Loved - December 2

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to

make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Reflect

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you…

All throughout the Bible, this truth is evident: God doesn’t make choices the way the world does. We all know how the world operates. If you want to be picked for a team at recess, you have to have one of two things going for you—you either have to be a “cool kid” or you have to actually be a good athlete. If you want to get into a college, you have to have great grades, great test scores, and a great resume of experiences to go along with it. If you want a competitive position in your career, you have to stand out among the rest of the candidates as more capable and deserving. You want to get married? You have to be good marriage material.

We understand that this is just the way our world works. But sometimes, that makes it difficult for us to be able to fully grasp how God works. In today’s verse, Paul told the Thessalonians that they (Paul, Silvanus/Silas, and Timothy) knew that God loved them and that He had chosen them. He also referred to them as brethren. The church at Thessalonica was family.

Remember in verses 2 and 3, that Paul had been expressing his thankfulness for the Thessalonian church, remembering them often in his prayers. He was sure that they were true believers because the evidence was in their works of faith and love and their unwavering hope in Jesus Christ. But while their faithfulness and their works were evidence of their true relationship with Christ, those works didn’t earn a relationship with Him. In fact, they didn’t do anything to deserve their salvation. They weren’t pursuing Christ. But He pursued them.

Acts 16:6-10 explains how Paul and his company ended up in their region with the Gospel in the first place. God sent Paul a vision in the night of a man from Macedonia. Paul concluded that God was calling them to the region of Macedonia and they eventually ended up in the city of Thessalonica (Acts 17). After Paul preached in the synagogue there for 3 Sabbaths, many of them believed and the first Christian church at Thessalonica was founded. But notice the order, first God sent the Gospel to them and then, they responded in faith. God moved first. He chose them.

Why did He choose them? Love. New Testament professor, Gene L. Green wrote this in his commentary on the Letters to the Thessalonians: “...God’s election is not based on human merits or virtue (2 Timothy 1:9), but instead his decision and initiative are rooted solely in his love.”

Just as this sounds radical to many of us today, it would have been radical to the Thessalonians as well. Government and military positions were based on personal merit, not love. And the religious teaching was not that the Greek gods loved and cared for their people, rather that mere mortals had to work diligently to stay on the gods’ good side and earn or maintain their favor.

The Gospel was a completely different message to the Thessalonians. God chose them and then He called His servants to preach the Gospel to them and extend an invitation from Him to put their faith in Him. But joining up with Christ isn’t like joining a club, it’s like joining a family. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!” (1 John 3:1).

I don’t have all of the answers about how God’s election (His choosing us) and our free will work together to result in our salvation. But when I go back to the Bible, I see both. First, God selected the city of Thessalonica to receive the Gospel message from Paul. Then, many of the people there received the message by faith. They were chosen and dearly loved by God. Brothers and sisters, so are we!

Respond

Lord, I know that I didn’t earn or deserve Your love. And yet, You loved and chose me. You pursued me and graciously extended an invitation of salvation to me. I have humbly and gratefully accepted Your offer of mercy and grace. What a blessing to be in the family of God! Amen.

Reveal

Who is God calling you to share the Gospel with?