Sinners to Saints

Verse of the day: Exodus 19:3-4 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.’”

By nature, we do not seek God. Romans 3:11-12 reads, “There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” Only after we come to know the Lord, do we truly seek after Him. 1 John 4:19 tells us that we love God only because He first loved us. There is actually a reminder of this in today’s verses. God refers to the Israelites as “the house of Jacob” and “the children of Israel”. We see a before and after in this reference. Jacob, “the supplanter” whose transformation, and name-change, to Israel, “God prevails”, could only come about as a result of God working in him to change him, is used by God in referring to His people. So it is with us. I am reminded of Jesus’ reference to the Apostle Peter, in John 1:42, “And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’” (which is translated, A Stone). The Apostle Peter had some failures in his life while he walked with Jesus, but God working in him converted him into a powerful preacher that He would use greatly (Acts 2). We also see this in the life of Saul who is converted to the Apostle Paul (Acts 9). The LORD directs Moses to remind the Israelites that they have come this far because of what God has done for them, and not what they did for themselves, as they could not free themselves from the bondage they were in without God’s deliverance. We, who are born again believers, could not become children of God without God making a way for us (John 1:12-13). Our salvation comes to us by God’s grace, and not by anything we have done, or can do (Ephesians 2:8-9). God describes His deliverance using the example of the eagle that carries her young on her wings, protecting them from the arrows of a hunter that would have to pierce her wings before getting to her young. He demonstrated this for them, to visibly see, when He appeared to them, and protected them, as a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire (Exodus 14:19-20). Like the eagle, that flies high above the storm, using the winds of the storm to raise it higher and higher; the Lord carried His people beyond what they were facing, and brought them across the Red Sea on dry land (Exodus 14:26-29). Today, God has taken us, His church, under His wing, like the hen does in giving shelter to her chicks, and keeps them safe. This was Jesus’ desire for His people Israel, but they would not come to Him (Matthew 23:37). We must remind ourselves continually of what we have gained in Christ. The LORD wanted the Israelites to remember what He had done for them so that this would be motivation for them to remain faithful and obedient to Him. If they would do this, then they would be a special treasure to Him, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation (v. 5-6). We, as born again believers, have been given this undeserved honor, in Christ. 1 Peter 2:9-10 reads, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Just like God converted the “house of Jacob” into the “children of Israel”, in Jesus Christ we have been made new creatures, changing us from lost sinners, and children of the devil, to saints, and children of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, if we love the LORD, we will live a life in obedience to His commands (John 14:15). God proved His faithfulness to both Israel, and to us, His church. What is keeping us from proving our faithfulness to Him, by the way we live for Him, and serve Him?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).