"The Election of Grace"

 "As he spoke these words, many believed on him." (John 8:30 KJV)

  "Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory." I replied, "But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD'S hand; I will trust God for my reward." And now the LORD speaks - the one who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength. He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."" (Isaiah 49:1-6 NLT)

 Maybe it is too soon to get into this, but I felt it should at least be brought to light. In the life of those that put their faith in God, God's grace is given based upon the faith that they have in Him, not upon the things that they might do or not do. Yes, there is the work of the individual that is small part of this process, but the work is not apprized or conscious; it is the reaction of the heart. 

 The proof of what I might be suggesting is found in the parable of sheep and goats, from Matthew 25. If you know what Jesus was speaking about, then you might recall, the goats thought that they were doing this and that for the Lord, but they were doing, whatever they did, for themselves. While the sheep, really had no idea that they did what they did for the Lord, because it was done from the heart, as an act of love. 

 Okay, so I might be a knucklehead and don't know anything that I might be talking about; but I am God's knucklehead, and I have no problem with that! He still holds me in the palm of His hand...

"No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your alters. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace - his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is - free and undeserved." (Romans 11:2-6 NLT)