Passion: The Bright Light of Glory

“‘So you will be my people,

    and I will be your God.’”

Jeremiah 30:22

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

John 15:16

when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:21-24

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

Your worth is based on the value God has placed on you.

You are not defined by your past, your failures, what someone else said you’re worth, what you think you’re worth, your accomplishments, what you own, the way you look or by any other value this world or its people have or have not placed on you.

Your value is forever engraved in the stone that is the Father’s love and He declares, “I am yours and you are mine.” And, He affirms, “you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Jeremiah 30:22.

You did not choose God, and you might not even choose yourself. But, the God of heaven has chosen you. Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” John 15:16

Not only are we chosen by God, we are purchased at a great cost. Our worth has been sealed forever in His love and mercy. Our lives are defined today by His grace alone.

God does not love you based on your performance, potential, religious effort, promises, family name or best intentions. And in spite of your wounds, your stain and your shame He still chose you for Himself. He chose you when you were dead in sin and couldn’t even present yourself to Him as a worthy choice.

God chose you because He saw His own image in you, the divine stamp woven into the fabric of your being when He uniquely knitted your frame together in secret. And He decided you were worth a rescue mission of love that would require the death of His own Son.

Your value today, and forever, rest in this truth alone—By grace you are a loved son, a loved daughter, of God.

In Jesus Christ this is true of you. But the enemy will not simply let you go. He will remind you every day of who you used to be. But God tells you who you are.

God loved you enough to swoop into your story and obliterate your sin by crushing His innocent Son, setting you free and redeeming you forever.