Deuteronomy 32:9

“The Lord’s portion is his people.” 
              — Deuteronomy 32:9

How are they his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose them, and set
his love upon them. This he did altogether apart from any goodness in
them at the time, or any goodness which he foresaw in them. He had
mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto
eternal life; thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained
election.

They are not only his by choice, but by purchase. He has bought and
paid for them to the utmost farthing, hence about his title there can
be no dispute. Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold,
but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord’s
portion has been fully redeemed. There is no mortgage on his estate; no
suits can be raised by opposing claimants, the price was paid in open
court, and the Church is the Lord’s freehold for ever. See the
blood-mark upon all the chosen, invisible to human eye, but known to
Christ, for “the Lord knoweth them that are his”; he forgetteth none of
those whom he has redeemed from among men; he counts the sheep for whom
he laid down his life, and remembers well the Church for which he gave
himself.

They are also his by conquest. What a battle he had in us before we
would be won! How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often he sent
us terms of capitulation! but we barred our gates, and fenced our walls
against him. Do we not remember that glorious hour when he carried our
hearts by storm? When he placed his cross against the wall, and scaled
our ramparts, planting on our strongholds the blood-red flag of his
omnipotent mercy? Yes, we are, indeed, the conquered captives of his
omnipotent love. Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued, the rights of our
divine possessor are inalienable: we rejoice that we never can be our
own; and we desire, day by day, to do his will, and to show forth his
glory.

On this day…

• Jeremiah 38 – 2024
• Jeremiah 37 – 2024
• He Must Increase, I Must Decrease – 2011
• The Free Will of the Wind – 2011
• Trying to pray without a Saviour insults the Deity – 2011
• Be dogmatically true – 2011
• Itching ears to hear spreading news – 2011
• The essence of God’s character – 2011
• Leading men – 2011
• Anything that exhalts man – 2011