The Elect

God calls you His “elect”
Not because He’s capricious,
Not because He wants some to miss heaven.

He wants you to see yourself
As chosen
Because He wants you to see yourself
As perfectly loved.

If you did something to
Catch God’s eye—
Flashed a little of your own righteousness
At Him,
Batted an eyelash of impressive works—

How would you know that He loves you
Perfectly?
How would you know that He accepts you
Unconditionally?

Predestination isn’t fatalism—
It is grace traced to its earliest source.
When something is given because of an obligation
It isn’t a gift.

Your adoption as a child of God,
A co-heir of Christ
Is all gift.
No obligation for Him to give it.
I bless you to see it and believe it—
It’s all grace.
Gift, all the way through.