July 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Let's begin with the "call." God calls a person by means of the gospel, addressing that person by his Word and Spirit. God tells him or her to repent and believe the good news about Jesus Christ.

Very likely God's call has come to you. That call may have come through a parent or a preacher or a teacher, but you knew that it was almighty God himself who laid his hand on you and said, "You are mine."

God never calls anyone by accident, offhandedly, or casually. People might do that. We sometimes say one thing today and forget about it tomorrow. But consistency, faithfulness, and reliability, which are so scarce among people, are the everlasting qualities of God.

Therefore, when God called us, this call constituted one link in a golden chain of events that stretches from everlasting to everlasting.

"Predestined ... called ... justified ... glorified." That is the golden chain. Both ends of the chain are fastened beyond our horizon. One end is called predestined: it means that before we knew God, God knew us. Before we decided, God decided. Before we loved God, God loved us. This link of the chain is anchored in eternity.

The next two links can be known and experienced in time. They are God's call and his acquittal: called and justified. God says our names and then gives us our part in the righteousness of Christ.

The final link is forever fastened to the former ones. It is our reception to glory. Although this final link is again beyond our horizon, it is as sure as God himself.

So the call of the gospel has come to you. You are sure that it came from God himself. And your whole life has been taken up in the sovereign work of the Redeemer. No "accidents" can happen along the way. Without a doubt, God will lead you to his final goal.

REFLECTIONS

How does the imagery of "the golden chain" make you feel when you apply it to yourself? Be sure to express those feelings to the One who predestined you, called you by name, justified you, and who will one day glorify you!

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.