“What did I do to deserve this?” This question could be a whining complaint about the ills which have befallen someone. Or, equally, it could be the Apostle Paul’s bewilderment at finding himself blessed, protected, provided for, included, etc., in God’s plan of Salvation. For him, the answer to that question would be, “Nothing at all!” His astonishment grows at being anointed to go and preach Jesus to the Gentiles! “I am the most insignificant of all the apostles, unworthy even to be called an apostle . . . but God’s amazing grace has made me who I am!” 1 Cor. 15:9,10, TPT. He eventually writes that he has renounced every one of his ‘qualifications’ for serving God, having come to see them as worthless trophies, a pile of manure Phil. 3:4-8, TPT.
Paul’s amazement is ours, too. We have all been caught up in a mysterious, divine plan to direct previously lost, broken, sinful people back to the Father’s heart. Unlike Paul, we started with nothing, no qualifications for godliness, nothing lovable to cause the Father to choose us. And that’s because He is love and it’s His pure nature to love. Jesus reminded his disciples that they had not chosen him, but he had chosen them. And so it is with us. We are chosen ones. And not just chosen, but redeemed, forgiven, cleansed, made righteous, new. It’s like God took all the wrong in us and removed it to fit us for His glory!
One more mysterious bit; once His remaking of us was accomplished, we were invaded by the perfect peace Jesus bequeathed to his disciples. It is ours. We can’t earn it. We can’t obey enough to achieve it. We can’t clean up enough to qualify for it. All that’s off the table. We are in possession of all that Jesus promised.
I can hear you wondering; well, if that’s true, why do I experience all that I currently experience that, quite frankly, doesn’t feel anything like peace? It’s because our souls have an enemy who desperately wants to keep hidden from our understanding the truth of all God’s done for us and in us. But when we fully surrender to our helplessness, humbly accepting the gift Jesus has offered, we will ‘have the eyes of our hearts opened’ and we’ll begin to know the reality of his peace. And yes, to the horror of our nemesis, it is absolutely possible, now. So cool! PD
