There’s a hymn written by Josiah Conder (1789–1855) that spells out the grace there in God’s call on our lives. It’s a grace that we receive as a gift at our baptism. It’s a grace that enlivens us every day – whatever the circumstance we face. It’s a grace that gives us hope.Lord, ’tis not that I did choose you;

Lord, ’tis not that I did choose you;
that, I know, could never be,
for this heart would still refuse you
had your grace not chosen me.
You removed the sin that stained me,
cleansing me to be your own;
for this purpose you ordained me,
that I live for you alone.

The truth in this hymn can be quite confronting for us human beings. It takes away from our control ‘whose we are and who we live for’. That’s challenging in this day and age when, like never before, choice is our great right and freedom. Free choice is what we expect in every circumstance of our lives. This we might expect, even though reality can sometimes be quite different. For example: there’s no free choice in whether or not we pay the fine when we’ve been photographed touching our mobile phone while driving. There’s no freedom of choice as to whether or not we will accept the diagnosis of a medical professional – even though we may seek a second opinion.
However, in the most important choice of all: Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people – we have a certainty that cannot be revoked. We take comfort in this; that it is God’s truth for us and for the whole of creation. What an extraordinary thing that God had you and me in mind through all the aeons of time.