God’s Goodness, Not Mine

God did not choose Israel because they were mighty and God does not choose me because I am good and talented. I believe God makes his choices about who will be His long before we have done anything good or bad, big or small, right or wrong, He made his choices before he made the world . I am so thankful his election is not based on my good works or his rejection based on my sinful deeds. I suppose then we would all be rejected. He set his love on certain ones, not because of anything we do or how valuable we are or because we are faithful, smart, beautiful and talented, I think this would lead to a work based salvation. I think it would be a hopeless and sad state for mankind. He chose me because he is good and kind. If I thought for even one minute it was my own goodness that secured God’s love, I’d be either arrogant or terribly insecure and consistently fearful that I would lose his love if I stepped even an inch over the line. I could never rest in his mercy if I worked to avoid his judgment. Knowing I don’t have to earn God’s affection, that I don’t have to be perfect to be forgiven and that I don’t have to be talented to be valuable brings me great freedom,. If i believe that God chose me because of something He did, because he is loving and gracious, because he has a plan and purpose, because he is good and righteous then I can fully rest in HIS choices and goodness rather than wrestling to muster up my own. I am certain that I am not chosen because I am good, but that I am good because I am chosen.