Saved For Himself

But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; The LORD hears when I call to Him. (Psalms 4:3)

I once knew a musical instrument maker that made instruments to sell. You could walk into his shop and they were lined up, hanging on the wall. Each instrument was unique to itself and not a mass-produced copy. Each had its own tone. He would be hard pressed to tell you which one was the best. It would depend upon what you were looking for. But if you asked him which instruments he thinks are the best for him, he would take you to the back room. This was the place where the public had no access. Here he wwould show you a few instruments that were so exceptional that he saved them for himself. They were not for sale. They were for his private collection. They were examples of superior craftsmanship.
In the grind of daily living in a fallen world, it is easy to believe that our lives have no value outside of ourselves and a few people who are close to us. We can be lured into thinking that our one life is far too insignificant to matter in the grand scheme of things. We may have already been told as much. Living with the feeling that we have no worth can be very painful. But the truth has not been told or heard until we hear from God.
What the world throws away, God picks up. What the world breaks, God mends. The psalmist gives us an idea of a proper sense of self-worth. It’s a good word for us to remember today.

I. GOD SAVES PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF. God does not accumulate possessions as treasures. He is not concerned with things. He is concerned with souls. That which is eternal matters to God. People are His treasures. We are treasured because we have value to the collector. He collects us so that we will serve His purpose.
II. GOD SAVES THE UNGODLY TO MAKE THEM GODLY. God saves the worst because only He can make them the best. There are none beyond the restoring power of God’s Spirit. The most ruthless enemy of God, the most ungodly among us can be saved. God’s purpose is saving men to make them more like Him.
III. GOD SETS APART THE GODLY MAN FOR HIMSELF. Only godly people will be in God’s presence. When we are saved, we are transformed. We are picked up, fixed up, and cleaned up so that we can come into His presence. We can choose to be ungodly and practice ungodliness. But after we are set apart for God, it is never the same. When we are ungodly, we do not enjoy the fellowship of God.
IV. THE LORD HEARS WHEN THE GODLY MAN CALLS. God is delighted when His people cry out to Him. Like a maker of fine instruments, He loves to hear the music that the instrument plays. The beautiful music is a reflection of the maker. Our cry to God is a testimony to all creation that He is worthy to be praised. It’s all about Him.
GOD SAVES US FROM OURSELF WHEN HE SAVES US FOR HIMSELF.