I want to tell you about three men. The first was the son of a very powerful head of state. He enjoyed all the benefits of his father's house. But he murdered someone and he was the type of man who ran from his problems instead of facing them. He was a poor speaker and seemed to be a very troubled man. The second man was actually the head of state in his country. He too was a murderer. He also was an adulterer. In fact he had the husband of his mistress killed. This man seemed to be rotten person. The third man was a prominent figure in the church. He was very learned and very zealous to carry out his duties. Of course, his duties involved hunting down enemies of the church and having them executed or thrown in prison. He was a dangerous man.

What do these three men have in common besides the fact you probably wouldn't want them living next door to you? The connection between these three men is that God chose them to play prominent roles in the Bible. The first man, the royal son and murderer, was Moses. God chose him to lead his people out of slavery to the Promised Land. The second man, the adulterous and murdering head of state, was King David. God chose him to lead the nation of Israel and carry on the line of the Savior. The third man, the high-ranking religious persecutor, was the Apostle Paul. He was chosen by God to preach to the Gentiles.

God chose all three of these men, Moses, David and Paul. Obviously God didn't choose them because they were good enough to serve God. They were sinners just like you and me. Yet, God made them his dear children, adopted by His grace. In love, God chose these men. We too have been chosen. We have been chosen by the Father to show faith and love.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight." Before creation, our almighty God set his plan into action. Being all-knowing, he knew what would happen throughout all time. At creation, he made man in his image, holy and blameless. That didn't last very long. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's will and sin entered the world. Man was no longer holy and blameless, but rather sinful and guilty. And because sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, we too are born with sin and condemned by our actions. The punishment for our sin is hell. The Father has chosen us, but we, in our sinfulness, rebel and don't want to be chosen.

Paul goes on to tell us that our heavenly Father has also predestined to adopt us. Even though we are sinful and have thrown off the holiness and blamelessness God intended for us, God went about to make us his dear children. That is why we can call him our Father. Just as earthly parents leave their children inheritances, God our heavenly Father has left us the most incredible inheritance ever given. Because the Father has adopted us, we receive a free gift. It is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, who left the glorious heights of heaven to be born a lowly child in a manger. That child, true man, grew up to be the Savior of the world by dying on the cross for all our sins, making us once again holy and blameless in God's eyes. We receive this gift from our Father. It is free. It is ours. We have been adopted by God and predestined to receive this special gift.

God has chosen us. He has done the work. We can at anytime push him out of our lives and it seems we try that on a daily basis. In spite of this, he continues to love us and shower His grace upon us. That saving grace is our assurance that we will someday join our Father in heaven. Praise be to the Lord for choosing us. Praise him for showering his grace on a rebellious people. Praise him for loving us as a Father loves his dear children. The Father has chosen us.

Dr. Harry Ironside, a famous Baptist preacher, once told the story of a man who gave his testimony about how God had sought him and found him, how God had loved him, called him, saved him, and healed him. It was a tremendous testimony to the Lord.

After giving this testimony, one rather misguided man took him aside and said, "You know, I appreciate all that you said about what God did for you, but you didn't mention about your part in it. Salvation is really part us and part God."

"Oh," the man said, "I apologize, I should have mentioned that. My part was running away, and God's part was running after me until he found me."

God has found us and made us believers. Give thanks to God for his love to us. Give thanks with you lives and show it with your faith and love.

Now some in their heart of hearts may be a little worn out from the holidays. Some may be struggling with faith and love in this post-holiday season. We just put all that holiday niceness behind us. We just finished all the special holiday services and all that holiday cheer can be put away for another year. Then again, there are others with the best intentions that have made those New Year's resolutions to be better people, to make faith and love a priority all year round. Yet it is January 4th and how many of those resolutions are still standing. Either way, we can see how easy it is to slip back into sin. We are sinful people and the devil, the world and our sinful flesh are constantly enticing us. Don't give in!

We heard earlier how God gave us the remarkable gift of his Son who is our Savior. God, in choosing us, has also given us another special gift. That gift is the Spirit of wisdom. The Holy Spirit places saving faith in our hearts. He gives us the knowledge, through the Word and Sacraments that our sins have been forgiven.

Since our sins have been removed and we have no fear of death and hell, let us live in faith and love. Ask yourselves some important questions. Will you serve God or the devil this year? God can strengthen you to serve him. Will you be faithful in coming to God's house for worship or will you come only when it is convenient for you? God has given you three services a week now to hear the gospel and worship at St. Stephen. Will you come to Bible study regularly or will you make up lame excuses why it is not for you? God has placed his Word before us. Let us be faithful with it.

Also ask yourself if you will show true love this year. Will you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind? Will you love your neighbor as yourself? Will you get rid of your sinful pride and selfishness and truly serve one another or will you expect to be served by everyone else? God will give you the will to love. Let us make this a priority as we serve God.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." I give thanks to God for all you in my prayers as your pastor. I ask God that he would build you up with his Word so that you will know him better, for God has chosen you.

Some young people asked me a while back, "Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be his disciple? My response was, "Why did Jesus choose me?" There is no reason God should have chosen any of us, but he has. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritually blessing in Christ." Amen.