Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, …
Summary: This passage is a refreshing change of pace in Paul’s letter. He reminds us that our faith is not based on fear, but rather is couched in love.
As we turn to look at this verse, the first five words are a show-stopper. Paul says we are “God’s chosen people!” Reading this gives us a reason to smile!
So much of Paul’s letter to the Colossians sounds almost critical. It feels a bit like a stern lecture from a grandparent. Yet, even after admonitions of putting our “earthly nature” to death, Paul suddenly turns and says something nice!
We are “God’s chosen people!”
There is something delightfully reassuring about that statement.
Not only are we God’s chosen people, but we are “holy” and cherished by our Creator!
Never mind that Paul is going to dive into another round of instructions on things we need to be doing because we are God’s people. Stop for a moment and smell the roses! Enjoy the aroma of God’s love for us. Revel in the glory of being chosen by God.
Solomon reminds us, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Fearing God is a reasonable response to the idea of being confronted by our Maker. Not only is God the most powerful being in the universe, he is the reason the universe can exist at all. Without God, we cannot exist.
God’s existence is, in a very real way, the sword of Damocles. Hanging over our heads by the slenderest of threads is the sword of reality, of judgment, and ultimately, the knowledge that we all die.
“Aye, there’s the rub,” as Shakespeare’s Hamlet so famously pointed out.
If death comes and we are not right with God, the consequences are as terrifying as they are long-lasting.
The fear of death is real, and we fear it for a reason. For those who do not know God, death is the great unknown and a fearful one to boot.
Having read this much of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we know there is hope, and hope’s name is Jesus Christ. As Jesus says to Jarius, the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36).
When we believe something wonderful happens. The reality of God begins to fill our lives. For some, it happens quickly. Other times it moves more slowly. But the reality of God is unmistakable.
Instead of a sword hanging over our heads, we find ourselves swept up into the loving arms of our Father in heaven. We truly are “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”
Application: Do not be afraid; only believe!
Food for Thought: What is unique about “God’s chosen people?”
What is unique about God’s chosen people is what we all have in common through faith in Christ that the unbelieving world does not have.
We are His children, born in the Spirit, with a glorious eternal inheritance awaiting us. We have a relationship with Christ demonstrated through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our future is glorious but our present is also deeply affected through a meaningful relationship with our Creator.
1 Peter 1: 3 – 9: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
John 1: 12 – 13: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Romans 8: 28 – 39: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who i have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen, Brother!
Well said and GREAT verses! 🙂
A very good devotion and response from Rich!
What is unique about “God’s chosen people?”
Being chosen we are set apart. Like one who chooses a item from many and sets it apart for a special purpose. The uniqueness comes in that we are set apart not for who we are, but for His purpose, set apart for redemption, restoration, and renewal through Christ our Lord.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
Chris,
I love that you point out we are all set apart for different purposes! I was just reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 where Paul talks about the different parts of the body. Personally, I think I might be a gizzard! 🙂
Great words Guy’s!
What is unique about “God’s chosen people?”
There was a time when as a fairly new believer we were studying Galatians 5:22-23, fruit of the Spirit. I read these verses and decided, I should have all of these. So as I prayed each evening, and would ask God to give me one of these fruits. One evening I read HUMILITY. I remember thinking, I probably really don’t need that one, and chose to pass it by.
Well God had a very different view of this decision, and for one very brief moment God revealed to me, exactly what I was. In that brief moment I was driven to my knees in tears as God opened my heart, revealing my true self and I knew I was a dead man. I remember feeling an arm come around me and hearing His voice as He spoke in my heart, “ That’s ok Ron, I have always known exactly who you are, it’s just time you learned.”
Throughout the Bible we see, Gods chosen people are imperfect people chosen to reveal His perfect word to the world around us. As God’s chosen people, our choices are all known by God, before creation. God has known the name of all who will choose to receive His gift of life in obedience to His will over our own. This world will continue to exist until the very last of His chosen people get on the bus. At that moment this monkey business will all come to an end.
2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1 Peter 1:2, According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Galatians 1:15, But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
Thank you, Ron!!
I love this story! I can see myself doing the same thing … “I don’t need no humility!” Ha!!
We all do!
Thank you for sharing!