CHOSEN! BY MY HEAVENLY FATHER!

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… ~ Ephesians 1:4

I remember standing shoulder to shoulder with my classmates at recess as the two most popular elementary school kids took turns choosing players for their teams. “Don’t let me be the last one.” I cringed inside. The last one chosen didn’t even have their name spoken. By the time there was one left, the two teams were already running into position on the field. The last, who was not really chosen at all, walked in an uncertain falter joining the team that was short a player.

The human criterion for choosing often centers on performance or popularity. Qualifications in these terms make it a contest and we become preoccupied with comparison and ambitions to stand out from the crowd because there is something special about being chosen. It validates our significance, our value, and our social importance. People go to great lengths to be “choosable”, even compromising moral, ethical, or social values to find a group where they are desired and accepted.

But God completely detached from earthly criteria, only needs one eligibility – Jesus. And in Jesus, His divine, unmistakable, steady CHOICE is YOU.

Here is a good starting point to begin understanding God’s approach:

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:27

Set apart for him – chosen, consecrated, spotless, positioned perfectly in his love!

I breathe a sigh of relief, the human criterion does not make me a competitive candidate for God’s choosing.

God, the Father, CHOSE US in HIM – in JESUS! You and me. Are you in Jesus? The Father picked you to be such. No person can be in Jesus except the Heavenly Father draws (Greek meaning “to drag”) them to that choice (John 6:44). The relational covenant with God is established by His choosing and our acceptance. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). He chose us and we in turn can choose Him!

But isn’t a person qualified by one’s religious profile or portfolio? One’s beautiful benevolence? How about one’s pious performance, sanctimonious sentiments, or devoted discipline?

Absolutely not! He CHOSE you without conditions.

You were not a last pick, an afterthought, or a spontaneous decision. You were already CHOSEN by God before the foundation (conception) of the world! “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But there was someone in the heart and mind of God before Genesis 1:1. The someone was YOU! And at that time God selected – YOU! He didn’t wait to see how you would turn out. He wasn’t holding off to see if you would be beautiful, talented, or perform according to a particular standard. He didn’t hesitate in doubt about your qualifications. No.

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” ~ Psalm 139:16

Don’t let the age-old theological debate of predestination become a distraction. Jesus loved the world and God created humankind with a will to choose or reject Him. How God sorts through the heart of each person is a mystery above my clearance level. I will not sit in judgment nor let theological arguments diminish this valuable piece of my identity.

Instead, rejoice that God picked you!  “CHOSEN by God!” is your identity!

But there’s more! You are chosen to be “HOLY and without BLAME before Him in LOVE!”

SET APART for HIM – CHOSEN, CONSECRATED, SPOTLESS, POSITIONED perfectly in HIS LOVE!

This is a description of YOU in Jesus! Not a feel-good statement, but a fact. Heavenly Father sees you as such.

The reality of this truth is rooted in the relationship! It is because YOU ARE and HE IS – TOGETHER as one! In the security of this relationship, you can thrive in your growth, practicing WHO you really are in His Kingdom.

Wow! This reality transforms perspective, attitude, and life choices! No more contending for God’s attention. No more disqualification from the past. No more needing to prove worthiness. No more comparing to and competing with others. Too good to be true? It is too good, and it is true!

In the schoolyard, I played the game because I was chosen to be on the team. I took ownership of my privilege and position – my identity. And I played the sport that I was chosen to play. I wore the uniform, talked the talk, and walked the walk.

Our Father trusts us to walk life in alignment with our identity as CHOSEN by God in Jesus’ kingdom. Live like you are His first choice! Because you are! Consecrated, spotless, and positioned perfectly in His love. Let this truth build your faith and your confidence, define your purpose, influence your decisions, change your perspective, and fuel your passion for Christ’s kingdom. Let this truth shape you into authentic representatives of the Kingdom of God in this world.

Are there things you would like to change about yourself? Start with embracing WHO you really are. Change comes from the inward transformation of the mind aligning with God about WHO He says you are.

Congratulations! You have been CHOSEN!

“I am Chosen”