Chosen

“… I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:9-10 NIV)

Do you remember being chosen for teams when you played games as a child? Perhaps you were one of the more talented athletes and were chosen early. Maybe you were one who was chosen in the middle of the pack. You might have been the one who was at the tail end of the process and was chosen last. Being chosen first tends to make someone feel special. Being chosen in the middle makes one feel grateful. Being chosen last makes one feel; well, it makes you feel like you’ve been chosen last!

What if it came down to only you and someone else to be chosen? What if the other person was chosen before you? What if the final team did not use their last choice and left you out? What if you were not chosen at all? How might that feel?

Childhood games are a good example of how much priority we place on the wrong things. We prize being chosen first or being picked before someone else. It makes us feel better to know that we are wanted before others. What we should express great gratitude for is not “when” we were chosen but “that” we were chosen.

King David said, “Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.” (Ps 65:4 NIV) If you have accepted God’s gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ and given your life to Him then you know what it is like to be chosen by God. It matters little whether you were chosen first or last but it matters greatly that you were chosen!

The question is; do you live like you have been chosen by God? Do you live in assurance or in doubt? God said, “I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” Take Him at His word! Do you live in confidence or in fear? God said, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” Stand boldly in His presence! Do you live in strength or in weakness? God said, “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Live powerful in His grasp!

Remember that you are chosen and Who has chosen you! Jesus said, “My Father, who has given [you] to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch [you] out of my Father's hand.” (John 10:29 NIV)

Larry