Day 6

MAKING OUR ELECTION SURE

"And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." Ephesians 2:17

Saul thought that having been called by God his interpretation of God's will must be right. When God rejected him as king there is no indication that he rejected him as far as salvation is concerned. Saul's persistent stubbornness in refusing to accept God's will led to his own destruction. Having studied his life, do you think he could have changed? Or was he fated to become what he was after his rejection?

What about David? He was an outstanding example of what God can do for and through someone who truly knows him. But in the aftermath of his crimes, while trusting in God's mercy and love, shame and anguish made him an ineffective father and undermined his confidence as king. Could David have been different? Or was that 'moral paralysis' unavoidable?

We all have flaws and weaknesses of character. Look at Romans 7:15 again - words from an experienced and mature Christian, as are Heb. 12:1. Can a person change? What God asks of us is not outstanding successes; look at Matt. 25:14-30 especially verses 21 and 23. Faithfulness is the key expectation. It implies knowing the Master's requirements and carrying them out. Can we do this?

1 Cor. 10:1-6 is a helpful hint. Studying the lives of God's servants in Scripture and seeing their mistakes we can understand and avoid them! But how? Look at Phil. 2:12,13 and then consider Jesus' words in John 15:5, "without me you can do nothing." So however hard we try we will fail? Look back at Phil. 2:13 and at Jude 24,25. Compare John 15:5 with John 5:19. If Jesus could do nothing of himself who did he rely on? He is our example. Who should we rely on? Eph. 2:17 Read E.G. White "Steps to Christ" on the 'will' (p47) and abiding in Christ (p52).