Unbranched

"So that God's purpose of election might continue," Romans 9:11.

Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had father Abraham. And I am one of them. And so are you. (So says the song, rightly.) But not all offspring of Abraham are children of God's promise. (So says the Bible.) By promise, Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah. By the flesh, Abraham had other children: Ishmael (with Hagar), Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah (with Keturah), yet others (with concubines). These all got blessed. But. God's purpose of election, of choosing, continues God's call for an unbroken, direct, unbranched line of promise from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through David to Jesus. God elects and calls according to his plan, not according to the vagaries of our flesh. And God's grand promise of election continues to the present in adding all who call on the name of Christ to the number of his children of promise. The congregation of Christ.

We meet today, brothers and sisters chosen in Christ, as recipients of God's continuing purpose of election. And, together, we praise God for our security in Christ.