Midweek Message from the Archive
Do you remember any early experiences in school when teams were being chosen? The teacher picked a captain and his responsibility was to choose the ones he wanted on his team. Then, at the end of this dreadful experience, someone always seemed to be left. If it was you, I share your pain and as a former teacher, I apologize for letting it happen. There is pain in not being chosen.
The good news is that if you are a believer, you are chosen. You were chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). As a result of His great love for you and because of that choosing, He called you to come to Himself. You are not a follower of Christ because you decided one day to believe in Him; He had you in His divine plan from the beginning and has been waiting for you for respond. How wonderful is that, the apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 8:31. We were chosen, we were called, and we are justified or given right standing with God. Those are truths from God’s Word, even mysteries, that make me want to live for Him. Paul went on to say that since that’s true, God is on our side, like the captain of our team, so who could ever come against us? Who would dare come against God’s elect or chosen ones? Paul says emphatically: NO ONE! In case you didn’t get it the first time he says it again, NO ONE!
Are you feeling accused in any way today: not good enough, not smart enough, not thin enough, not nice enough, not anything enough? God is speaking to you today and He is saying, “I chose you, dear one, you are mine.” No one should be able to make you feel inadequate in any way because you were chosen by God Himself before the world was ever created. Can I explain that? No, but if the Bible says it, I believe it and I will write about it to encourage you.
Maybe you’re not being accused and condemned by the enemy today, thank God for that, but don’t be deceived; he’ll eventually try to get to you. Be prepared and stay grounded in who you are in Christ: you were chosen by God before you were even born. Jesus said this, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” (John 15:16 NLT)
What a great team you’ve been chosen to be on! Live this week in honor of your Captain, Jesus Christ and in unity with your teammates. When we all work together on the same team life just seems to work better. Isn’t that true?