J.A. Matteson
Prior to your awareness of God He was aware of you. "When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son" (Hos. 11:1). Small, insignificant, weak, but beloved; such was and is the relationship between God and Israel. And further, such is the astounding relationship between Christ and His church. Metaphorically, beloved, while you were in bondage to sin and death, God set His affections on you, loved you, and purposed redemption for you. With a mighty hand He bound the powers of darkness and brought you into the liberty of life, breathing into you His Spirit whereby you cry out "Hallijulia, my Redeemer lives!" Consider the gift to which you are heir to. Liberty, yes! Forgiveness, yes! Life, yes! Purpose, yes! A future and a hope, yes! Yet realize this: these delightful manifestations of your rebirth have as their origin the love of God toward you. God's superlative gift to you is Himself; He by His love toward you revealed Himself to you, through which all of the other spiritual benefits that you possess and enjoy exist. Indeed, you love Him because He first loved you, and called you into fellowship with Himself for eternity. Oh the gracious love of God toward His people, how precious are His thoughts toward you and good His providential appointments by which He leads you still higher on the mount of His eternal majesty. Let us with gratitude hearts give thanks to Him who gave us the gift beyond value, Himself.
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