Chosen by God
Day 329, Sunday, July 6
Isaiah Chapter 41
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, “You are my servant”; I have chosen you and not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
We are reminded that God chose our ancestors in the faith before we even knew him, and before we were even born. It is his choice, not our merit, that leads to our salvation.
The biblical story tells us that while God has at times been angry with his children, he has not rejected us. Instead, he has repeatedly reached out his hand to bridge the gap we have created between ourselves and his love.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Job 3:1-10
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said:
“May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it.
May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it.
That night—may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.
May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn, for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.

Prayer focus
Lord, remind us that you chose us before we knew you.