Chosen and Uncondemned
“Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
-1 Corinthians 15:8-11
Do you ever still carry the guilt of your past self?
Do you even now condemn yourself, consider yourself unworthy, and convince yourself that you are lesser in the eyes of God because of your past mistakes?
Consider the Apostle Paul in the words he penned above.
He was a persecutor of the Church who hunted followers of Jesus and had them condemned as criminals, and yet, God chose him, and even made him the Apostle to the Gentiles!
If Paul, with such a bloodstained past, could be forgiven, chosen, and used in such powerful ways, how much then are you forgiven, chosen, and being prepared for a powerful life?
Jesus explained a similar situation like this:
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.””
-Luke 7:47
Now understand, this is certainly not an excuse to continue on sinning but serves as an example to us all that Jesus has forgiven us completely in full.
Our past lives are behind us, and what we now do with the gift of grace is what matters.
Before God, you are clean, washed by the blood of Christ, and empowered with the gift of His Spirit to go live a life of faith that declares His great love to all.
Therefore, you are uncondemned, you are chosen, and you are greatly loved!
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
-Romans 8:1-2
What did you gain from this devotional today or has the Holy Spirit brought anything up that you’d like to share? Join the community in the comments section below!
