He also chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. (Ephesians 1:4)
As Jesus celebrates Passover with His disciples, He gives it new meaning; the bread and wine representing His body and blood broken and shed for them on the cross. Meanwhile, the disciples start arguing over who should be the greatest among them, and Jesus reminds them that service is greater than authority in the Kingdom. However, because they walked with Him during His ministry, they would have a special place in the Kingdom as rulers over the Israel. While Jesus was serving and talking about laying down His life for them, the disciples were focused on being served.
We are the disciples. By nature, we as human beings are concerned with having what’s right in front of us, being top priority, being served. The Lord Jesus, however, has other plans for His people. We are the “elect” of God, meaning we were chosen beforehand by the Father’s sovereign love and grace to be adopted as His children through His Son Jesus Christ! Before the sun and the planets were created by God, He had us in mind. That is such an awesome truth, we are the chosen ones! With that identity-transforming truth, however, comes a response from us: we are called to be a part of everyday life, but live by a totally different value-system than the world. In other words, Jesus wants us to have a Kingdom state of mind among the unbelieving world.
Through verses like Hebrews 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 4:18, the Holy Spirit teaches us to have our spiritual eyes fixed on the things of Heaven, to live for eternity instead of this temporal world. When we live like that, the decisions we make, the things we prioritize, and the Lord we obey, they all change; the world will notice when a group of people are a part of this world, but live like they’re in another! This happens when we live amongst he unbelieving world in a manner the not only exempts us from rightful accusations and condemnation, but reveals a radical new way of life! According to Paul in his letter to Titus, the same grace that saves us in Christ leads us to live righteously in the world, which points to and glorifies God! (Titus 2:11-15)
- Guys, we are the elect of God, chosen to be set apart and deeply loved, which means we’re called to live with a Kingdom mindset in this fallen world! The grace of God that saved us in Christ teaches us to live wisely and righteously in the world we find ourselves in, bringing glory, not shame, to God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)
