Being Overwhelmed by Grace!

Whenever I prepare to preach a passage there are always great ideas I must cut out for the sake of time and focus.  Last  week I made the difficult decision to cut out a significant idea from Galatians 4:1-11, being known by God.  Most of who are Christ followers describe our relationship to God in terms of us at the center and move toward God so we use terms like my walk with God.  Paul does the same thing but he catches himself in mid sentence to clarify and make a clearer, more accurate statement, "now that you have come to know God, or rather be known by God (4:9)."  He points to a more important and fundamental truth to our experience of knowing God's saving love as a Father and that is His prior knowledge of us in setting His affection on us.  This knowing of us by God points to his choosing of us as an act of free grace.  It is almost synonomous to his choosing us.  That is why translators translate the word known as choosing in some instances.  For example,

"For I have chosen , that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." (Gen 18:19 ESV) 

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (Amo 3:2 ESV) 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."  (Jer 1:5 ESV)  

It overwhelms me to know that before I existed, before I did anything good or bad, He set his saving love and affection on me then at just the right time called me to himself, caused me to be born again so that faith was a wakened and I said yes to Jesus!  Such grace leaves me speechless.