From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Mother's Day Blessings
Date: Sunday, May 12, 2002 8:05 AM

"How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee,
 To dwell in Thy courts..."  Psalm 65:4

As stated last week, the mighty God of all creation has personally chosen
each one of us who believe and He brings us near to dwell in His courts.
What an awesome thing!  It is really beyond our ability to comprehend the
fathomless truth of this.  It takes the Holy Spirit of God to open it up to
each one, for as we see in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired by
God..." therefore, it takes Him to interpret it.  And how does He do this?
 "...Order on order, order on order, lines on line, line on line, a little
here, a little there." Isaiah 28:10.
It is through our personal study of the Bible, through the teaching of men
of God, through trials and circumstances and always with a heart open to the
Lord.

Let's look at some of the verses in Scripture that refer to those of God's
choosing, the chosen ones.
"For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has
chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who
are on the face of the earth."  Deuteronomy 7:6
Now if you think that because this verse is in the Old Testament that it
refers to the Israelites only, I refer you to1 Peter 2:9-10 that says,
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for
God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a
people, but now you are the people of God..."

Ephesians l:3-4 makes it clear just who are the 'chosen ones' and when He
chose us -- those in Christ and before the foundation of the world!  What
grace -- God's unmerited favor!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ," Vs 3
Vs 4 in the Amplified Bible says,  "Even as [in His love] He chose us
[actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart
for Him) and blameless in His sight..."

We know, "All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of
God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with
Christ..."  Romans 8:14-15

And you can be assured of this,
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image
of His Son (Christ Jesus), that He might be the first-born among many
brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called,
these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."
Romans 8:29-30  (Predestined, called, justified, glorified!  I have heard
this called the golden chain and so it is!)

Chosen and brought near to dwell in His courts -- in His very presence!  We
have open access to our mighty God!  Do you sense His ever presence?  That
is where we are to live.  He has made it possible in Christ Jesus our Lord!

For Jesus says, "I am the Door, anyone who enters in through Me will be
saved (will live).  He will come in and he will go out [freely]..."
John 10:9

And in Ephesians 3:12 we see,
"In whom, because of our faith in Him [Christ Jesus], we dare to have the
boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to
God with freedom and without fear)."

So, "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...let
us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:22-23

Hallelujah!  All praise, honor, glory and worship to our heavenly Father,
Son and Holy Spirit now and forever!  Amen.