THE DETERMINED OBJECTIVE OF SALVATION God has revealed those to whom He is attracted, and for whom He will make provision. All of these are affirmed in full awareness of the fall of man, and the corruption that resulted from that fall. A few Divine utterances on this matter will suffice to establish who will find favor in the eyes of the Lord. -- Tomorrow:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." (Romans 8:28-34, NKJV)
Devotion 12 of 33
THERE ARE A SPECIAL PEOPLE
1. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong IN THE BEHALF OF THEM whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chron 16:9).
2. "For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but TO THIS MAN will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word" (Isa 66:12).
3. "The Lord is nigh UNTO THEM that are of a broken heart; and SAVETH SUCH as be of a contrite spirit" (Psa 34:18).
4. "The SACRIFICES OF GOD ARE a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" (Psa 51:17).
5. "Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto THE LOWLY: but the proud He knoweth afar off" (Psa 138:6).
6. "But in every nation HE THAT FEARETH GOD AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:35).
No person should balk at these statements, imagining that the fallen nature of man forbids the presence of such qualities. Tenderness of heart is what endeared people like Jacob, Joseph, David, and Cornelius to the Lord. None of these individuals were born again at the time God's favor came to them. Three of them lived before an atoning sacrifice for sin and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit had been given. Yet God called David "a man after Mine own heart" (Acts 13:22). He said of Jacob, "Jacob have I loved" (Rom 9:13). Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, was told, "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God" (Acts 10:4). Whatever deficiencies they may have possessed, and whatever failures may have been found in these men, their sensitivity to God was their premier quality.
The Lord "looks upon the heart" (1 Sam 16:7), and "weighs the spirits," or motives, of man (Prov 16:2). The Lord "knows the hearts of the children of men" (1 Kings 8:39), "searches the hearts," and "understands all the imaginations of the thoughts" (1 Chron 28:9). He "tests the hearts and minds" of men (Psa 7:9), and "sees the mind and the heart" of every man (Jer 10:12).
In all of these searchings, it is my understanding that God perceives capacities and inclinations as well as accomplishments.
This is involved in God knowing and separating Jeremiah before he came out of his other's womb (Jer 1:4-5). It is also related to God loving Jacob before he was born, or had done any good or evil (Rom 9:11-13). This aspect of God is also revealed in Paul, who was separated from the mother's womb, then called (Gal 1:15).
Those who desire simplistic views of profound utterances need faith. There are factors involved in the Divine assessment of men that are only perceptible to God Himself.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that You can search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me. After I have searched my own heart, therefore, I ask you to do it also, so that I can make straight paths for me feet.