Day 3 - Chosen, Ordained, Unstained

We are CHOSEN, joined to Him, ordained and unstained.

Read Ephesians 1:4

…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… (NKJV)

And he chose us to be his very own, joining us to himself even before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence. (TPT™)

As many times as I read this, I remain in constant awe that I am seen through a lens that doesn’t take in my sin. I am washed and white as snow (Psalm 51:7). He removes my sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Unstained, unblemished…and wholly His! We could spend weeks on this Truth alone.

Let’s read the verse again in the Amplified:

…just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight… (AMP)

Such knowledge is too lofty for my mind to fully grasp hold of. And yet, I am grateful, so very grateful that the Living God can see me simply through the eyes of a Father, a good and perfect Father – one who loves His children sacrificially and unconditionally! I am His!

The Lord expands on this idea of being chosen… We are not simply chosen to be sons and daughters, while this in and of itself would be enough, more than enough!

He calls us CHOSEN and then He calls us ordained – a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Read this passage in the Passion Translation:

But you are God’s chosen treasure^[o]—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. ¹⁰For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it! 1 Peter 2:9-10 (TPT™)

I love this imagery of being DRENCHED with His mercy – in such a way that I cannot help but should His praises from the mountaintop. We have been called out of the darkness! Our lives truly should be walking billboards of HIM and His goodness!

He also calls us “joined to Him”! This picture quickly draws me to the imagery of the vine and branches (if you have time, read John 15). As we are called chosen, ordained, unstained – and then a royal priesthood…it’s not simply a matter of words, but it’s about relationship.

We are meant to abide, to be SO connected to Him, that HE daily, continually (as with a vine) breathes life into us. The best of relationships involve time spent together and intimacy. Shana Schutte describes intimacy in this way:

“One evening over dinner with a friend, we spoke about intimacy and what it means. She shared a cute little phrase with me to remind me of intimacy’s true meaning. “It means ‘in-to-me-see,’” she said. Ah yes, it’s a blending of our heart with another’s, so we can “see into” who they really are, and they can “see into” us.

According to Dictionary.com, intimacy is defined as, “showing a close union or combination of particles or elements: an intimate mixture.”

Being intimate involves the mixing of our life with another’s, a mingling of souls, a sharing of hearts. This is something we all long for because it’s how God made us. We were designed to connect.”

We were made to connect! Find time today to sit alone with the Father. Find time to sit with a friend or a family member. Make it a point to really connect. It is a glimpse into intimacy – and it is a picture of unity.

[If the thought of “being known” terrifies you, picture yourself placing that fear at the feet of Jesus. Then ask Him to bring you a “safe” friend to “risk” with. Be up front with this friend; tell him/her how hard it is for you, but then choose to share something real. It is so hard to let someone truly “know” you; especially when you have spent a lifetime in protection mode. But I can promise you – once you get through the hard “learning curve”, you will never want to look back. “Being known” is a precious gift! Trust me, I know!]