Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Ephesians 3:8-9 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
GOD CHOOSES THE UNWORTHY
Why did God choose idolatrous Abraham? Why did He not rather choose one of those who faithfully followed the holy patriarch Shem and retained the true worship of God? Undoubtedly in order to commend and glorify His mercy, which truly is, as Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians (3:8), "unsearchable riches." Just so God calls Paul in later ages to be the apostle of the Gentiles--a fact to which Paul himself refers in the same passage--though he had been a very bad man, homicidal, a blasphemer, burning with hatred against Christ and His church. Yet God called him, whereas He might have called one of the seventy-two disciples or some other excellent man. But He does not do this. By choosing Paul He shows us the superabundance of His mercy.
But this fact has certainly not been recorded in order to confirm the godless in their impiety or to make them feel all the freer to go on sinning. It is written that the fearful and the timid, who are troubled to the point of despair by their sins, may have comfort and that, encouraged by such examples, they may also learn to hope in God, who is merciful. For the wrath of God and sin are tremendous forces, and a conscience cannot bear them unless it is upheld by the Word of God. Therefore we need such examples, which teach the infinite mercy of God, that we, too, may call upon God and hope for forgiveness.
--Martin Luther
By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
Our works and conduct have no worth.
God in His love sent our Redeemer,
Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone,
And we are saved by grace alone.
(Lutheran Service Book, 566:2)
