CAN YOU REJOICE IN ELECTING
LOVE?
Can you rejoice in electing love? Paul did. He said,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he
hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:3-4).
"We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the
Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through
sanctification of the Spirit.…and belief of the truth" (II Thess. 2:13).
Can you rejoice in electing love? Peter did. He said, "Ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvellous light…Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father" (I Pet. 2:9; 1:2). Can you rejoice in electing love? David did. He
leaped and danced before the ark of God, because God had chosen him above Saul.
He said, "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me
an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: for this is all my
salvation and all my desire" (II Sam. 23:5). Can you rejoice in electing
love? Our Lord did. On the night before his crucifixion he taught his disciples
the doctrine of election in very plain and clear terms, in order to comfort and
encourage their hearts. He said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your
fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of my Father in my name, he
may give it you" (John