chosen.
You did not choose me, but I chose you.
John 15:16
With full knowledge of your past failings and present defects of character, God chose you anyway. That's mind-blowing grace! It's also a truth that's hard to hold on to when you're having a bad day and under-performing spiritually. What does it mean to be chosen?
(1) To be chosen is to be seen as unique! Each one of us cries out to be noticed, to be special, not just one more of the same. And with God, "everybody is somebody." In His eyes there are no misfits, rejects, or second-class citizens. (2) To be recognised as having something to contribute! Chosen people are significant. Their biographies get written and read because their stories matter. They establish God's Kingdom on the earth. Understand this: God thinks you have something to contribute that no one else can. (3) To be wanted by God! For people with empty hearts and wounded pasts, the only true basis for self-worth - is God's unchanging opinion of you revealed in His Word.
To be chosen by men often means to be chosen at someone else's expense. But God doesn't choose in that way. No, His plan for you does not diminish the lives of others; it enhances them. In God's plan, those who are chosen are always chosen for one reason - to serve. When we begin to see one another as being chosen by God, we'll begin to love and respect one another in a way we never have before. And that will profoundly change every relationship we've got.
Still have doubts over why God would choose you?
Sometimes, we do wonder why God shouldn't have called you, or me, or anyone, for that matter. One thing that you must get clear, is that God doesn't wait until we are perfect before He calls us. Think of all those people in the Bible which God used. They were far from perfect.
-Abraham lied
-Sarah laughed at God's promises
-Moses stuttered
-David's armor didn't fit
-Hosea's wife was a prostitute
-Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning
-Jacob had an affair
-Abraham was too old
-David was too young
-Peter was afraid of death
-Lazarus was dead
-Naomi was a widow
-Moses & Paul were murderers
-Jonah ran from God
-Miriam was a gossip
-Gideon and Thomas both doubted
-Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal
-John the Baptist was a loudmouth
-Martha was a worry-wort
-Noah got drunk
-Moses, Peter, Paul and many others had short tempers.
But God doesn’t hire and fire like most bosses because He’s more like our Dad than a boss. He doesn’t look at financial gain or loss. He’s not prejudiced or partial, nor sassy and brassy, nor deaf to our cry. He’s not blind to our faults. His gifts to us are free. We could do wonderful things for others and still not be wonderful ourselves. Satan says, “You’re not worthy!” Jesus says, “So what? I AM.” Satan looks back and sees our mistakes...
God looks back and sees the Cross.
John 15:16
With full knowledge of your past failings and present defects of character, God chose you anyway. That's mind-blowing grace! It's also a truth that's hard to hold on to when you're having a bad day and under-performing spiritually. What does it mean to be chosen?
(1) To be chosen is to be seen as unique! Each one of us cries out to be noticed, to be special, not just one more of the same. And with God, "everybody is somebody." In His eyes there are no misfits, rejects, or second-class citizens. (2) To be recognised as having something to contribute! Chosen people are significant. Their biographies get written and read because their stories matter. They establish God's Kingdom on the earth. Understand this: God thinks you have something to contribute that no one else can. (3) To be wanted by God! For people with empty hearts and wounded pasts, the only true basis for self-worth - is God's unchanging opinion of you revealed in His Word.
To be chosen by men often means to be chosen at someone else's expense. But God doesn't choose in that way. No, His plan for you does not diminish the lives of others; it enhances them. In God's plan, those who are chosen are always chosen for one reason - to serve. When we begin to see one another as being chosen by God, we'll begin to love and respect one another in a way we never have before. And that will profoundly change every relationship we've got.
Still have doubts over why God would choose you?
Sometimes, we do wonder why God shouldn't have called you, or me, or anyone, for that matter. One thing that you must get clear, is that God doesn't wait until we are perfect before He calls us. Think of all those people in the Bible which God used. They were far from perfect.
-Abraham lied
-Sarah laughed at God's promises
-Moses stuttered
-David's armor didn't fit
-Hosea's wife was a prostitute
-Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning
-Jacob had an affair
-Abraham was too old
-David was too young
-Peter was afraid of death
-Lazarus was dead
-Naomi was a widow
-Moses & Paul were murderers
-Jonah ran from God
-Miriam was a gossip
-Gideon and Thomas both doubted
-Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal
-John the Baptist was a loudmouth
-Martha was a worry-wort
-Noah got drunk
-Moses, Peter, Paul and many others had short tempers.
But God doesn’t hire and fire like most bosses because He’s more like our Dad than a boss. He doesn’t look at financial gain or loss. He’s not prejudiced or partial, nor sassy and brassy, nor deaf to our cry. He’s not blind to our faults. His gifts to us are free. We could do wonderful things for others and still not be wonderful ourselves. Satan says, “You’re not worthy!” Jesus says, “So what? I AM.” Satan looks back and sees our mistakes...
God looks back and sees the Cross.
posted by Jeddy! | 9:46 AM
<< Home