TO BE CHOSEN BY GOD!
Growing up, during recess time, I was the default person – you know, the one left who was assigned to a team. No one wanted to choose me right off. It even worked out that they would rotate me between teams so each had an opportunity to be handicapped – equally. Can you imagine how painful that is while growing up, especially in grammar school where your personality and beliefs are being formed and shaped? I grew up feeling unwanted by my peers and never being chosen first for sports, during recess!
This was a painful time in my life. The lesson I learned is:
ABILITY = acceptance. INABILITY = rejection
There is so much more that contributed to my low self-esteem and a poor self-image. However, that is not what I want to focus on.
Once I accepted Jesus as my Savior and made Him Lord of my life I was introduced, through time and Bible study, to who I am in Christ and how He sees me.
The most freeing and life transforming Scripture I found was:
“Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]” (Ephesians 1:4-5 AMPC)
This Scripture was a major game changer for me. You see Jesus actually picked me out for Himself, as His own, before the foundation of the world. I was not an afterthought or part of His team by default. He planned for me because He wanted me.
Then I found this Scripture:
“And the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 14:2 NLT)
Being "Chosen by God” is a constant reminder of who I am and Who I belong to. It’s a reminder that I was chosen by God, and I am His treasured possession above all the peoples on the face of the earth. It’s a reminder that no matter who doesn’t choose me on earth I have been chosen by God for eternity. I am loved by God with an everlasting and unconditional love. So, no matter what is going on in my life, knowing I am chosen by God levels the playing field!
Now this Scripture brings it home:
"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2:4-5 NIV)
Wow! What a powerful testament to what God thinks about me. I was blown away. I am, “Chosen by God," "Precious to Him," "Being built into a Spiritual house," "To be a Holy Priesthood, Offering Spiritual Sacrifices Acceptable to God!" He has a lot in store for me. And you know what? I don't do it alone. The verse ends with, "Through Jesus Christ!"
God has deposited some powerful things in me. He's knit purpose in my DNA. He's declared that I am, "Chosen by God." I need to let that sink in for a moment, "Chosen by God." I need to say it out loud, "I am Chosen by God." This one statement of irrefutable fact changes EVERYTHING! All of this applies to you too! Wrap your heart around this and let it navigate your life.
Stay tuned, because God isn't finished with me yet! And I’m so thankful that He is not! The best is yet to come!
Be Encouraged! ❤
Are those chosen by God the ones who chose to recieve God? The only way to be chosen is to choose him first or is it already ordained those who will chose him.
I think I am going to cry. It’s amazing how we can read these scriptures for years, before it comes alive. He planned for me, because He wanted me. I am undone.