Have you ever thought about being special? It’s a startling idea: Among all the world’s billions, no other person is exactly like you. Look at the signs of your individuality. No other person was born with your fingerprint. No other person matches the iris of your eye. Every cell in your body, every spark of mental activity, everything about your spirit, speaks of significance: “You are more than special, you are unique.”
Called And Chosen
More than that, you have been called and chosen. If you have heard the Good News, that is God’s way of calling you. If you have shared in the Good News, having faithfully obeyed, that is God’s way of choosing you. Actually, the Bible says that even before the world began God chose to purify and adopt you through His Son. Now God confirms that choice by His Spirit’s work and by your belief in the Good News.
[God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved [Christ] (Ephesians 1:4-6).
God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this He called you through our Gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
God’s Spirit sanctifies you—sets you apart, makes you special—for closeness with God. The result is that you share in the glory of the risen Lord. This is not the earthly glory of the rich and famous. This is the glory of being with and like God’s Son. He fills your life with purpose and joy. Do you believe that God wants you and chooses you? Have you accepted His call by sharing His death, burial and resurrection? Then you are ready for the adventure of your life!
God’s Spirit is there for you from the beginning. Just as fleshly life came through your parents, spiritual birth comes from the Holy Spirit.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6).
… he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6).
Babies are not born alone. Babies are born to mothers who hold and feed them. Likewise, God gives us new life by His Spirit “who He poured out on us richly”—covering us and caring for us.