Hosanna Restoration Church

One of my sons recently completed Ranger school and training and received the coveted Ranger tab. Needless to say, it was a very rigorous challenge, but he accomplished his goal and is now an official Ranger. In order to do this he first had to be selected for the opportunity and that in itself was a bit of a process. While considering this, I thought of how we were all selected by God.

The great thing with God is that our election is sure and there is no labor required in order to receive our seal of the Holy Spirit. We were elected and selected with the only requirement being the desire to know Christ. God even put that in us before the foundation of the world! So God has given us everything we need. The only thing He will not do is force us to believe.

Recently we talked about Paul and how he got up and how we need to keep getting up. What could inspire us to keep getting up? Let’s face it there are times when we lose sight of the prize. We lose sight of it because the enemy does everything he can to keep us from seeing it. He tries to keep us from seeing at the very beginning of our salvation and will take every opportunity to steal it all along the way.

All through the Ranger training the instructors did their best to get people to drop out. The soldiers can quit anytime they want to. I have no idea how many times they want to just stay down. All they have to do is refuse to get up and they can have rest and food and go back to a more reasonable type of training. The problem is that the only way to obtain the prize is to keep getting up.

Compare that to the way our Father has arranged for us to receive the prize. We call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We ask and receive the power of the Holy Spirit and are enabled to walk the walk. It is all a gift. We cannot work to receive this. If we could we would boast that we had done it ourselves.

We are what we are, because of Him and Him only! He has made our selection sure and by believing in Him we are accepted into all that God has promised. If you read on in Ephesians you will see that He is able to complete the good work that He has begun in us! The last thing He wants is for us to drop out. He does not want us to stay down and throw in the towel. He did not select us with the desire that only a few would survive. He did warn us that only a few choose His path even though His burden is easy and His yoke is light.

Dear Lord, help us to see and desire the prize that is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. You have promised us so much; help us to keep it all. We ask this in Jesus wonderful name.