Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

— John 6:37

4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

5 He predestined us unto sonship through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will

— Ephesians:1:4-5

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

— Romans 8:29

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

— Matthew 11:28

11 But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

12 So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

— Psalm 81:11-12

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and peace be with you. 

Jesus said, “All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.”  God’s providential sovereignty stands behind the challenging doctrine of election. Before God created the world, He chose those who would respond in faith. Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” However, God’s sovereignty in election does not negate each person’s responsibility to believe. God offers an invitation for all to believe. When God draws people through His Spirit, He works through their individual faith.

Sin has so ruined humanity that no one truly seeks God. Our fallen state renders us utterly unable to respond to the gospel in faith unless God first enables us. Let’s consider salvation as a door. A bold invitation is emblazoned on the outside of the door: “Whoever will may come.” Those who take hold of God’s promise walk through the door by faith to see another bold sign inside the door: “All those the Father gives Me will come to Me.” Hallelujah! Our responsibility is to come to Jesus to receive Him by the faith God gives us. And Jesus, God’s Son, receives us as the precious ones who God gives to Him. He will never drive us away.