God’s Choice of You

All choices are eternal in nature and the most important choices are those that carry the Believer to Heaven.....

We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1.

Choice: the act of choosing or care in selecting… "choice." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.

“His choice of you;” There are several different options from which to choose when looking in Webster’s Dictionary when looking for the best use of the word “choice” that Paul uses here. I tend to think that God’s choice making is always made with care and not in random selection. For this reason alone I do not get upset about the idea of Predestination.

At the moment I am not thinking about Predestination because that is a different topic in some ways, but on the other hand, it may not be. However, look at the text and study for a moment the basis upon which God apparently chooses the people to whom Paul writes.

Paul mentions “your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His Choice of you. The choice that God makes here among these of Thessalonica is founded upon their demonstration of commitment toward Jesus Christ the Lord. His care in selection is not randomly made, but rather His selection is done as a result of those who have chosen to follow the Christ. His calling standards have not changed.

Please note the following statements made by Paul:
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:26-30.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 2 Timothy 1:8-11.

In these two selections Paul makes it clear that the choice and calling of God to those who have chosen to follow Him are done so because of His design and intent.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace

With this said, you and I, His followers because of our faith in Him and by His grace upon us have responsibilities to complete in Him. These are grave commitments that we have made to Him that have eternal implications upon the souls of those to whom God has given us to share His love and message of Salvation. May we not be slack in completing them for this He has chosen His faithful.

The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Matthew 25:20-24.