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The Lord {YHWH} did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
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Back in 2013 my wife Alice and I had just returned to England after a time of preaching and teaching in a number of places throughout Kenya, East Africa. While we were there it happened that I had been teaching pastors at a local seminary/university and during our time there I had my 70th birthday. The head of the school arranged a surprise party for me to celebrate, which was a great blessing and time of fellowship.

Not long after we returned to England, Alice and I went over to North Wales to take part in a conference with our dear brother Arthur Burt who is now gone to be with the Lord. That time was as always another great blessing. Somebody started speaking about creation and how God had made everything in just seven days, the heavens, the earth, the animals, and yes, man and the woman. All of a sudden a thought really struck me: Being aware of my imperfections I stopped and asked the Lord, “if you made all of that in seven days out of nothing, why after seventy years am I not finished yet?”

His answer to me was clear and it was piercing; “You are not nothing yet.” He can make much from a little, and everything from nothing!

The single key to unlock true Christianity, bringing about the fullness of God’s presence and His love in our lives, can be expressed in one word—humility. We have indeed been chosen. Jesus said to His disciples that You did not choose Me, but I chose you. {Jn.15:16} And just like those Israelites in today’s verse, we were chosen not because of what we are or what we have done, but because of His love, His mercy and His grace.

We are called to, and surely need to, humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt us at the proper time. {1Pt.5:6} The way up is by bowing down! We are to always give thanks to God in all things {1Thes.5:18} and then to enter His gates with thanksgiving. Then we can move deeper into His courts with praise. {Ps.100:4} But with all of that said, the goal for us, a royal priesthood {1Pt.2:9}, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. {Ps.95:6}

If you like and sing that beautiful old hymn, “I Surrender All” written by Judson W. Van DeVenter in the late 1800’s (and if you don’t you should) make sure you mean it (and again, if you don’t you should) because we are responsible for all of the words that come out of our mouths. {Mat.12:34-37}

Jesus spoke to His disciples and His followers saying:

“And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:10-12)

HUMBLE YOURSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD